Latest news with #Bill3
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Saying Goodbye to the High: Bill could outlaw THC products in Abilene, sparking local outcry
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Texas House Bill 3 proposes a ban on the sale and consumption of any product containing any amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but what will the move mean for Texans who rely on these types of products for alternative medical uses? Texas House bans THC products, reduces criminal penalty for possessing intoxicating hemp It comes in gummies, chocolates, or even just the traditional flower form. THC products can be found in a variety of styles with uses that span beyond simply recreational. Texas Senate Bill 3, which has now passed both the Texas Senate and House, seeks to completely ban the consumption and sale of hemp products that contain any amount of THC, though it would not affect the sale of non-psychoactive cannabinoids such as CBD and CBG. Brittany Manske, the owner of the Abilene CBD House of Healing, expressed concerns about the bill and claimed that Texas lawmakers are mischaracterizing the product she sells. 'The picture that Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has painted just doesn't apply to businesses like ours. We operate with integrity, high standards in regards to quality and safety,' Manske said. The bill is now on Governor Greg Abbott's desk and just needs his signature to become Texas law. Now, many who rely on the product as a substitute for various treatments for both medical and mental ailments are voicing their concerns about this action. CBD and other hemp products make their mark on the Key City One of those individuals is retired Veteran Andrew Peterson, who regularly uses THC products to help with pain management from injuries he sustained while he was serving, and says that more military members like him are switching to using THC products as a safer alternative than other coping mechanisms. 'I feel like when people get out of the military, it's a lot better than choosing to go directly to alcohol and ruining their lives and going down that rabbit hole,' Peterson explained. Valerie Armstrong said that she uses THC products for a variety of ailments, including both physical and mental, and speaks to the benefits of the product, as well as proposing monetary ventures that could benefit the state. 'It is good for people who have cancer. It helps them eat. It helps them get through their day. You say this is going to affect our kids? Yeah, it could affect our kids,' Armstrong said. 'You know what we could do? We could take the money from the taxes. We can no longer make kids pay for school food.' Lawmakers hope to expand medical marijuana program as state bans intoxicating hemp products At this point, no action has been taken by the governor's office regarding SP3, but Brittany Manske says she's not waiting around and has decided to take action. Manske and her business have Texas Senate Bill 3 and are seeking 100,000 signatures to present to Governor Abbott. If the bill is signed into law, the ban will take effect in September of this year. However, the proposed law will not apply to individuals in Texas who possess a license for medical THC use. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hemp sales in Texas face uncertain future
TEXAS (KMID/KPEJ)- The Texas House and Senate are currently in a showdown battle for which of their proposed THC ban bills will ultimately pass the 89th legislative session. Texas Senate Bill 3 originally aimed at banning all hemp products containing THC. However, a Texas House committee passed its own version of the bill that was drastically different. FULL STORY: Hemp sales in Texas face uncertain future SB 3 Key Differences Texas Senate's version Bans all consumable hemp products statewide Backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Texas House's version Allows the sale of hemp beverages (containing less than 0.3% of THC) Allows very low THC consumables that don't resemble a snack marketed towards children Bans vapes, vape shops and all synthetics Backed by Chair of the State Affairs Committee, Ken King 'It allows for some hemp sales to be continued. It bans vapes. It bans vape shops. It bans all synthetics. Delta-9, the natural flower that's grown and sold in Texas, would remain,' King said. A customer must be 21 to purchase a hemp beverage, and the bill prohibits any sales from being made within 1,000 feet of a school, playground, day care, homeless shelter, or church. If the bill is passed, it would not guarantee these products will be sold everywhere in Texas. Counties will have the option to opt out of this bill by voting to become a dry county for consumable hemp. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called for the ban of all THC, saying the products being sold in Texas are unregulated and a risk to children. Patrick is so adamant about passing SB 3, he's threatened to force a special session despite not having the explicit power to do so. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
09-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Texas House could take up THC ban bill
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's push to outlaw THC in Texas is ramping up as a House committee considers his bill to ban the substance and another bill to place new limits on the industry. Why it matters: A multibillion-dollar industry hangs in the balance with less than two months to go in the legislative session. Hemp opponents say the unregulated industry is harming children. Context: The fight is over consumable, hemp-derived delta-8 THC, one of the minor chemical variants of delta-9 THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in traditional cannabis. Delta-8 THC provides lesser psychoactive effects and is typically coupled with CBD, another hemp-derived compound used for pain relief and mental wellness. Catch up quick: Hemp products containing small amounts of delta-8 THC, like edibles, vapes and traditional bud, were legalized in Texas' 2019 farm bill. Since then, the products have been sold in smoke shops, convenience stores and Veterans of Foreign Wars outposts across the state. The legal sale helps Texans struggling with chronic pain, PTSD and other ailments, advocates say. Patrick vowed in 2024 to undo the legislation and claimed that stores were selling products containing "unlimited THC" and marketing them to children with "life-threatening" consequences. Driving the news: The House State Affairs Committee heard testimony this week on Senate Bill 3, the Patrick-backed legislation seeking to outright ban the substance, and House Bill 28, which would impose age restrictions, ban synthetic cannabinoids, and impose strict licensing requirements for the hemp industry. HB 28 would allow an exception for THC-infused drinks to be sold in liquor stores, but it would ban edibles and smokable products. Texas senators passed Patrick's bill 27-4 in March. Houston Democratic Sens. Molly Cook and Carol Alvarado voted against it. The House committee left both bills pending. The intrigue: A majority of speakers told committee members they opposed banning delta-8 THC. Some speakers suggested more regulations to ensure nefarious products are kept off the market. What they're saying:"Get those off the shelf," veterans advocate Mitch Fuller told committee members in support of HB 28. "Regulate the hell out of this industry." "In the veteran community, we've chosen this as an option in the toolbox that works for us." Between the lines: House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) hasn't said which bill he supports. His office did not return a request for comment from Axios.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hemp industry pushes back against Senate bill to ban THC
Six years after Texas lawmakers inadvertently triggered the state's booming consumable hemp market, one chamber of the Legislature is pushing to shut down the industry by barring products that contain tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Yet even with the backing of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the powerful Texas Senate leader, the proposal to ban THC faces uncertain prospects in the House, where the hemp industry is bullish about getting lawmakers to tighten regulations rather than quashing most of their products altogether. In the lower chamber, efforts to ban THC products have failed to gain traction, and this session no House lawmaker has filed anything akin to Senate Bill 3, which would outlaw products containing any amount of THC. House leadership has avoided weighing in on the matter, including Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, who did not respond to a request for comment. Mark Bordas, executive director of the Texas Hemp Business Council, said his group is 'cautiously optimistic' that House lawmakers will forgo a ban and accept 'thoughtful regulations' such as restricting THC products to Texans 21 and older, requiring tamper-proof packaging, and barring sales within a certain distance of schools. Some have also proposed tighter and more consistent testing requirements to ensure hemp products do not contain excessive levels of THC. 'We think at the end of the day, cooler heads will prevail,' Bordas said. 'We hope the Legislature will recognize that there are more than 50,000 jobs and lots of small businesses at stake, people's livelihoods as well as lives. People that have problems with alcohol or opioid addiction have turned to hemp so that they can be functional members of society again.' Thousands of cannabis dispensaries have popped up across Texas since 2019, when the GOP-controlled Legislature authorized the sale of consumable hemp. That law, passed one year after hemp was legalized nationwide, was intended to boost Texas agriculture by allowing the commercialization of hemp containing trace amounts of non-intoxicating delta-9 THC, the psychoactive element in marijuana. What ensued was a proliferation of hemp products, ranging from gummies and beverages to vapes and flower buds, that can now be bought at more than 8,300 locations around the state, from dispensaries to convenience stores. The products are not allowed to contain more than a 0.3% concentration of THC; anything higher is classified as marijuana, which remains illegal in Texas aside from limited medical use. Still, the hemp-derived products look, taste and sometimes have intoxicating effects similar to their more potent sibling. (Hemp and marijuana plants are both cannabis plants; the difference lies in their THC levels.) Sen. Charles Perry, a Lubbock Republican who carried the 2019 hemp legalization bill, says lawmakers did not intend to allow for such an explosion of consumable products. His latest proposal, SB 3, would make it illegal to possess or manufacture products containing THC outside the state's medical marijuana program. Violators would face up to a year in jail for possessing such products and 2 to 10 years in prison for manufacturing them under Perry's bill, which is among Patrick's top priorities this session. At a hearing on SB 3 this week, Perry blasted the hemp industry, saying that they had 'exploited' the 2019 law he helped pass 'to the point that it has endangered public health' with dangerously high THC concentrations. 'From a credibility perspective, the current industry providers — and there are several that are controllers of this industry — have shown not to be trustworthy,' Perry said. 'And now what they're all screaming about is, we want regulation, but we want it the way we want it.' It is now time, Perry said, to 'get the genie back in the bottle.' Not everyone is on board with the idea. Critics say the ban would effectively eliminate Texas' hemp industry and its roughly 50,000 jobs, along with tax revenue from the $8 billion it generates annually, by one estimate. And instead of solving public health concerns, critics argue, a ban would make things worse by forcing consumers into an unregulated black market, promoting easier access to even more potent products. 'You don't cure alcoholism by banning light beer,' Bordas said. 'Hemp is the light beer of cannabis offerings. If Texas has a THC problem, doesn't it stand to reason that the source of that THC problem is the high-potency marijuana with higher concentrations of THC?' Supporters of Perry's bill say those high THC levels are already found in retail products that purport to be under the legal limit. Steve Dye, chief of the Allen Police Department in north Texas, said recent undercover operations in his city found THC concentrations 'that tested up to 78%' in some products — well above the 0.3% threshold. (The manager of one shop raided by Allen authorities has filed a lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the search warrants and lab tests.) 'Labels on many products do not reflect the actual level of THC inside the packaging, which is leading to accidental intoxications, overdoses and increased addiction for these psychoactive products, particularly to our youth,' Dye told Senate lawmakers at Monday's hearing on SB 3. For now, state and federal law places no age limits and loose and inconsistent testing requirements on Texas' hemp industry. While SB 3 would ban THC products, it would continue to allow the non-intoxicating, non-psychoactive cannabidiol known as CBD. And it would place firmer restrictions on those products — along the lines of what hemp industry leaders propose for THC consumables, including barring sales or marketing to minors under 21 and requiring 'tamper-evident, child-resistant, and resealable' product packaging. Throughout the several-hour hearing, scores of people urged senators to impose tighter regulations to rein in high THC levels, rather than banning the products. Law enforcement cleared the Senate gallery after multiple outbursts from attendees cheering on witnesses who criticized the bill. Kevin Hale, legislative coordinator for the Texas Libertarian Party, said Perry's bill amounts to 'blatant government overreach' and 'pulls the rug out from under' hemp business owners who spent the last six years 'investing in storefronts, payrolls, marketing and supply chains.' 'These products are in demand by your constituents. They are not dangerous,' Hale said. 'Libertarians believe in a free and open, transparent market. This bill does the opposite, pushing consumers and suppliers back into the black market, where the labels and ethics are unchecked.' Some patients and doctors say the THC in cannabis can be used effectively to combat pain, depression, anxiety, appetite problems and nausea. Under the state's Compassionate Use Program, lawmakers have allowed some Texans to use medical marijuana to treat conditions that include epilepsy, seizures, autism, cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder. Though some veterans use the medical marijuana program for PTSD and other conditions, a number of veterans groups oppose Perry's bill, with some telling the Senate committee Monday that they prefer to use the more affordable and accessible THC products found at everyday retailers. But David Bass, an Army veteran who founded a group called Texas Veterans for Medical Marijuana, said it would be expensive to properly regulate the hemp industry. He urged lawmakers to support SB 3 and focus on expanding the state's Compassionate Use Program. 'I do not want our veterans using these hemp derivatives,' Bass said. 'The reason is, they have no idea what they are taking and they are not using these products under the care of a physician.' Under Texas' Compassionate Use Program, Bass said, 'we know exactly the origin and formulation of our meds. DPS inspects and certifies CUP meds, and we use CUP meds under the care of our doctors.' As things stand, however, the hemp industry has 'overwhelming advantages' over the state program, said Jervonne Singletary, senior director of government relations at Goodblend, one of three medical marijuana providers in Texas. For one, she said, patients have to jump through so many hoops to place and receive orders that some may opt to simply pick up THC products from the gas station around the corner. 'Right now, hemp businesses can really locate anywhere throughout the state that they want. They can be next door to your child's school,' Singletary said. 'Most liquor stores can't do that, we certainly can't do that, and we think it only makes sense to bring them in line.' Another Perry bill, SB 1505, would take aim at the issue by allowing medical marijuana providers to operate satellite storage facilities designed to make it easier for patients to access their prescriptions. The bill would also double the cap on licensed medical marijuana dispensers, to six from three. We can't wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Four takeaways from the sixth week of the Arkansas 95th General Assembly
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – It was another busy week for the Arkansas legislature despite the icy roads and bitter cold. More bills have reached the governor's desk for signature, and bills continue to be filed to address various issues in the state, both great and small. NEW LAWS Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation into law during the week, including a ceremony Thursday marking the signing of free school breakfast legislation and the Bell to Bell, No Cell Act. Both of these were part of her January speech that opened the general session. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs free school breakfast and phone-free classroom bills into law Additional legislation signed into law was a bill ending affirmative action in state operations. Senate Bill 3 prohibits discrimination by considering a person's race or gender. GULF OF AMERICA One bill that will not become law was House Resolution 1010, requiring Arkansas to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. The bill had made it through its committee hearing but failed in the House on its final vote. CHEMICAL CASTRATION House Bill 1535 was filed Wednesday and would add chemical castration to the sentence of anyone accused of rape of a person 12 years of age or younger. The castration will take place using medroxyprogesterone acetate after review by a medical expert. Medroxyprogesterone acetate is a synthetic female hormone that would bring testosterone to pre-puberty levels. It is already used in several states for chemical castration. According to the bill's language, an accused can opt for surgical castration if they want to avoid using medroxyprogesterone acetate. PETITION PROCESS Back and forth continues on legislation that would tighten the signature gathering for voter ballot initiatives. AG Tim Griffin among 25 attorney generals urging US Senate to pass 'HALT Fentanyl Act' Secretary of State Cole Jester came out with an Election Security Report Card that faulted the petition process and coincided with a batch of legislation, Senate bills 207 through 211, to place greater controls on the process. The issue is citizen access to the law-making process versus its security. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
