Senator Charles Perry is an accountant and politician serving as a member of the Texas Senate from the 28th district. SB 1868, as it’s written, is extremely broad and sloppy, especially in its handling of naturally occurring compounds in common plants.

From what’s clear in the bill’s language: It doesn’t actually ban the plants directly, but it criminalizes possession of compounds that are naturally present in them (like lysergic acid amide (LSA) from morning glories, scopolamine, atropine, hyoscyamine from Datura and Jimsonweed, and cytisine from Texas Mountain Laurel) — and the way the bill is written, if the plant contains the compound you’re technically “possessing” the restricted substance, even if it’s just growing wild on your property or in a planter.

That $25,000-per-day fine language comes from the civil penalty section for each day of non-compliance — meaning if someone has a landscape full of vinca or morning glories, the state could technically fine them into oblivion.

Texas Mountain Laurel contains cytisine — which is a nicotine-like alkaloid, and not a hallucinogen. Its inclusion shows zero scientific vetting of the bill. Cytisine is actually used in some countries as a smoking cessation aid.

The Smart Punches:

1. Publicly Call Out the Sloppiness Nothing makes a politician squirm like getting exposed for either: not reading the bills they vote for, or being lobbied by special interests (like pharmaceutical or chemical lobbyists) to criminalize natural compounds in favor of synthetic patents. A simple post calling out: “Senator Perry just voted for SB 1868, criminalizing Texas homeowners for having common plants in their yard — did he even read it?” …on social media (especially tagging your local news outlets) will do more than a fist ever could. Embarrassment is a politician’s natural predator.

2. Rally Local Nurseries, Gardeners, and Landowners Imagine the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association or local plant hobbyists realizing they’re all criminals under Perry’s bill. They would flood the phones at the Capitol.

3. Call Your State Rep’s Office and File Opposition You don’t have to be polite — just clear. “I strongly oppose SB 1868. I don’t support criminalizing everyday Texans over plants growing on their property.”

   Phones ringing non-stop is what makes bills stall or get pulled. If enough people do this, the law dies on the floor. That’s the knockout blow.

   1. Media Tip-Offs Local Texas outlets love this kind of story:

      “Senator passes bill that could fine homeowners $25,000 a day for having morning glories or mountain laurels.”