Latest news with #HB28
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
As Texas weighs banning consumable hemp containing THC, Austin shop sees 'stock buying'
Smoke shops in Austin are seeing customers panic-buy consumable hemp products after two proposals in the Texas Legislature threaten to upend Texans' right to "puff, puff, pass" smokable and edible products containing low levels of THC. Senate Bill 3, authored by state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, would ban Texas businesses from selling or manufacturing 'a consumable hemp product that contains any amount of a cannabinoid other than cannabidiol (CBD) or cannabigerol (CBG),' both of which are non-psychoactive compounds, meaning they don't produce the "high" feeling. The Senate last month passed SB 3, which is priority legislation for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the upper chamber. The House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on the bill April 7 and left the proposal pending. Estella Castro, who owns Austinite Cannabis Co. on East Cesar Chavez Street, has seen many senior citizens and veterans 'stock buying' consumable hemp products since SB 3 and House Bill 28, which also seeks to restrict the products, move through the Legislature. The House State Affairs Committee also heard testimony on HB 28 on April 7. 'It's terrible to have somebody thinking that (these products) are going to go away and they're on a fixed income, and they have to budget that gummy or that tincture in there,' Castro said. 'So we've been giving some veterans ... discounts because we've had such a huge amount of people coming out and stock buying because they're scared.' In 2019, a law sponsored by Perry legalized the production, manufacturing and sale of hemp in Texas, and inadvertently approved consumable products with up to 0.3% THC, the primary psychoactive component in the cannabis plant. In just six years, the Texas hemp industry created over 53,000 jobs and represents an estimated economic impact of $10 billion, according to Austin Monthly. More than 8,000 businesses, including everything from gas stations, convenience stores, vape shops, dispensaries and apothecaries, sell a similarly wide range of THC products in the state. SB 3, however, would ban all consumable hemp products, including gummies, pre-rolls, smokable flower and infused drinks. HB 28, authored by Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, would ban all smokable and edible consumable hemp products except for infused drinks. The bill would bring the regulation of those drinks under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. The Senate and House proposals come amid concerns from doctors and parents that many potent THC products are too accessible to minors and those whose brains are still developing, which the National Institutes of Health suggests may take until one reaches their mid-to-late 20s. The consumption of high-dose cannabinoids by adolescents leads to an increased risk of addiction and psychosis, which can lead to severe mental health disorders, according to a spokesperson for the Texas Medical Association, who is also a pediatrician. 'About 50% of them (adolescents who experience psychosis because of cannabinoid consumption) develop a formal diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder," the spokesperson said. Patrick, who is an ardent supporter of banning all consumable hemp products, calling it a 'life and death issue,' has threatened to hold parts of Gov. Greg Abbott's agenda hostage to get him to call a special session if consumable hemp isn't prohibited by the end of the legislative session in early June. Patrick points to myriad of cannabinoid compounds such as THCa (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), CBN (cannabinol), Delta-8 and others found in many products being legally sold across the state as being impossible for the state to keep up with effectively. 'You just can't regulate it. You've gotta take it out,' Patrick told the Texas Tribune. 'You're never going to be able to regulate it.' Patrick, who alleges many businesses are selling THC products to minors, investigated the issue himself and visited the Happy Cactus Apothecary in South Austin last month. In security camera footage of the encounter, Patrick seemed to expect not to have to show identification, but the business refused despite the 75-year-old clearly being of legal age. 'I'm Dan Patrick,' he reportedly replied, but the employee stuck to the store's policy of requiring identification. Brothers Mickey and Todd Harris, who own Happy Cactus, believe Patrick targeted their business due to its proximity to Crockett Early College High School and because it sold two joints to a Texas Monthly reporter last year that were above the 0.3% THC limit, according to lab testing. 'We showed him all of our testing,' said Todd Harris of the encounter with Patrick. 'We showed him that our limits are low. He even mentioned that he supports shops doing it like us, which is very different from his attitude in the media.' Patrick didn't purchase anything at the shop, but according to the Harris brothers, customers in his age group represent a significant portion of their business. 'Our clientele is pretty expansive, but I'd say most of them are looking for help with sleep, chronic pain or PTSD,' Mickey Harris said. 'We have a pretty large 55 (years old) and up clientele base.' 'Twenty-one to 100" years old, Todd chimed in. 'We do get a pretty big range. We have 80-year-olds coming in.' As the House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on the bills this month, Castro, the owner of Austinite Cannabis Co., her entire staff and hundreds of others flocked to the Capitol to lay out their case. Although Castro and her staff left after waiting more than 14 hours to testify, the Harris brothers were able to plead their case. 'For anybody that thinks that they can't get involved, they can,' Castro said. 'Everybody has a voice. We're not out of time yet. Challenge your lawmakers and ask questions. There's always room for help in this fight.' This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin shop sees panic buying as Texas weighs banning consumable hemp
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
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texans speak out against proposed hemp ban in 18-Hour Capitol hearing
Editor's note: The video above first aired April 2 in a separate story regarding the hemp ban and how it could impact local businesses. AUSTIN, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Hundreds of Texans crowded the Capitol on Monday, speaking out against two controversial bills that could reshape the state's booming hemp industry, or dismantle it altogether. What began as a standard House Committee on State Affairs hearing stretched more than 18 hours, as person after person testified in passionate opposition to Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 28. The proposed legislation, backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and authored in part by Sen. Charles Perry, seeks to impose sweeping restrictions on hemp-derived THC products. SB 3, which passed the Senate last month in a 24-7 vote, would ban all retail cannabinoid sales except for CBD and CBG. That includes Delta-8, Delta-9, and hemp-infused beverage products that currently make up the majority of the state's $8 billion hemp economy. 'If passed, Senate Bill 3 would wipe out the entire industry,' said Taylor Kirk, who runs a small craft hemp farm in Giddings. 'It would hand the market to illicit actors, drive small businesses out, and rob patients and veterans of legal, effective options.' The Community Responds Business owners, veterans, parents, medical patients, and even pastors stood before lawmakers to defend their access to hemp-derived products. Many emphasized that prohibition would not eliminate demand, but would push it into unregulated and potentially unsafe markets. 'I came off of fentanyl using hemp gummies,' said Pamela McKinley, a disabled woman living with a rare pain disorder. 'Now I can't afford the state's compassionate use program. Hemp is the only thing I can access for relief. Without it, I don't know how I'll live.' THC ban could cut off relief for Texas seniors and veterans, smoke shop owners say From Austin to Amarillo, comments submitted to the committee echoed the same message: Texans don't want a ban. In fact, more than 300 pages of public testimony were submitted, with an overwhelming majority against the legislation. One commenter, a small business owner from Longview, wrote, 'These products have made a real difference in people's lives — and removing them won't eliminate demand, it will just remove safety.' HB 28: A Softer Approach? While SB 3 proposes an outright ban on intoxicating hemp products, HB 28, introduced by Rep. Ken King, takes a slightly different approach. It would allow some hemp-infused beverages to remain legal but place them under the regulation of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. It would also restrict serving sizes and impose stricter testing, labeling, and packaging requirements. Still, many see HB 28 as a backdoor ban that benefits alcohol industry interests while marginalizing hemp businesses. 'This bill carves out drinks, but it still decimates the industry,' said Mitch Fuller, the legislative chairman for the Texas VFW. 'Thousands of veterans use these products to avoid the pharmaceutical cocktail of opioids and antidepressants.' Others agreed, warning of what they see as an attempt to consolidate the industry in the hands of larger players. 'This is a calculated attempt to destroy small businesses and hand the market over to big alcohol and pharma,' said one Austin-based grower. The Emotional Toll of Policy Not all opposition was economic. Several families shared personal stories of how hemp has helped them manage mental illness, PTSD, and chronic disease. At least two parents shared stories of losing their children to psychosis linked to synthetic THC, arguing that regulation, not prohibition, is the answer. 'This bill isn't just about products. It's about people,' said Austin Zamhariri, executive director of the Texas Cannabis Collective. 'What's needed is smart regulation, age restrictions, full-panel testing, packaging safeguards. But banning these products outright is not what Texans want.' Where the Bills Stand As of Tuesday, SB 3 remains pending in the House State Affairs Committee. HB 28 also has not advanced to a vote, though lawmakers are expected to take action soon. If either bill clears the committee, it will head to the full House for debate. According to public records, SB 3 was left pending in committee as of April 8, following the continuation of Monday's marathon hearing. The Stakes: Health, Jobs, and Liberty The stakes are high. The hemp industry in Texas supports an estimated 50,000 jobs and generates millions in tax revenue annually. But for many, it's not just about the economy…it's about autonomy, medicine, and freedom of choice. 'Texans don't want prohibition. We want protection. We want to be treated like adults,' said Lauren Bridges, a salon owner and cannabis advocate from Longview. 'Let us choose what works for our bodies, and let's build regulation that works not tear it all down.' With lawmakers under pressure from both sides, and the legislative clock ticking toward June 2, the future of Texas hemp hangs in the balance. You can read all public testimonies submitted to the Texas House State Affairs Committee in full here: TEXAS-HEMP-COMMENTSDownload TEXAS-HEMP-COMMENTS-2Download Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hearing held on legislation of Texas hemp industry
The Brief There was a hearing on legislation regarding the Texas hemp industry SB 3 would ban the sale of all products with THC HB 28 bans synthetic THC and products like gummies, but it allows hemp-infused beverages which would be regulated in alcohol AUSTIN, Texas - On Monday, members of the House State Affairs committee took up two bills that would dramatically reign in what's grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry. A House bill scales back sales with new regulations, while a plan from the Senate is essentially a ban on all products with THC. The sale of hemp products with low levels of THC was allowed about seven years ago. The backstory "Members, the unregulated industry that currently exists is a public health hazard. And it is our duty to ensure that we're protecting Texas against harmful products," said Committee Chairman Ken King (R) Canadian. SB 3 would ban the sale of all products with THC, except those authorized by the Compassionate Use law. HB 28 bans synthetic THC and products like gummies, but it allows hemp-infused beverages which would be regulated in alcohol. "This regulatory structure will also maintain the federal restriction on THC of no more than 0.3%, as well as limiting the amount a person can buy in a single day to 10 milligrams. House Bill 28 intends to stop advertising to children by making the legal age of consumption of these products 21, requiring ID verification during the purchase, and by creating regulations on advertising," said Chairman King. What they're saying The committee heard opposition to both bills. The police chief of Allen, Texas, Steve Dye, spoke to the committee about the crime linked to hemp stores in his town. He is with the Texas Police Chief's Association, which wants a tougher approach. "Our concerns with House Bill 28, as written include THC beverages, it should not be considered as a carve out. To us, the beverage is just another delivery method as vapes, waxes and edibles. We can't rush this decision as it will only create another loophole that we'll be addressing again in 2027," said Chief Dye. One loophole came up in the questioning a beverage distributor. It involved moving across the state line. Chairman King asked Ben Meggs of Bayou City Hemp if he moved out of Texas, would he still be able to ship his product to Texas residents? "Yes sir, we would. It's federally legal. We believe we can't stop interstate commerce," said Meggs. Lawmakers were also warned they could be helping those in the black-market. "If we ban everything on the market and don't have a solution for that $8 billion, then all we are doing is creating a bigger problem," said David Mukpo, the owner of Pamos Beverages. Concerns about over-regulation and unintended consequences were raised. That was a topic in the questioning from Dallas Democrat, Rafael Anchia, to cannabis law expert Susan Hays. Anchia noted how the House plan allows drinking a THC product but not allowing it to be put under a tongue as an oil. "To carve off these delivery systems as a crime and this is okay makes no sense to me. There are plenty of good manufacturers and retailers in this state," said Hays The committee was urged to regulate not to eliminate. "We want you to want our product. I want you to use my sleep gummies tonight. I just want you to believe in us enough to know that we will regulate for you and with you," said Katie Frazier, who runs a hemp product business in Austin. The owner of a company in Louisville, Kentucky, told the committee the reforms would close off Texas for his business. "Our Texas customers are not criminals, and neither am I, unless Texas makes me one," said Jim Higdon with Cornbread Hemp. The committee did hear strong support for banning synthetic THC products. Christine Scruggs, a mom from Pearland, testified her son was hooked on items he bought at a store in Georgetown, believing they were safe. "He was diagnosed with cannabis-induced psychotic disorder. He worked through a dual diagnosis program for eight and a half months. His therapist told him he's lucky not to have been converted to a long-term diagnosis of bipolar or schizophrenia," said Scruggs. What's next The House committee worked into the evening on the Senate Bill. Regardless of which regulatory hammer is sent to the full House, modifications are expected before any legislation is sent to the governor. The Source Information from the Texas legislative session
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Future of THC up in the air at Texas Capitol as store owners call for regulation over bans
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Members of the Texas House Committee on State Affairs listened to hours of public testimony over the future of THC as lawmakers decide if the hemp-made products will be completely banned or regulated. As of 5 p.m. Monday, lawmakers were still listening to members of the public about House Bill 28, which would ban all THC consumables, like vapes and edibles, but would regulate THC-infused drinkables. Texas Rep. Ken King, R – Canadian, filed the bill. Also scheduled for testimony on Monday is Senate Bill 3, which would create a complete ban on THC products. It passed the Texas Senate on March 19. HB 28 calls for many of the regulatory measures that lawmakers and many cannabis industry advocates have been pushing for including 21+ age restrictions on purchases, banning synthetic cannabinoids, more stringent testing of products, packaging that is child-resistant and responsibly marketed, and limits on the milligrams of THC in a serving. Steve Dye, the Chief of the Allen Police Department, testified against HB 28 because he supports a complete ban on all THC products, including drinkables. Dye testified his 27-square-mile town has 24 shops that sell THC products, and investigations by his department found the potency of current products is far higher than in years past. 'The average THC concentration is 29%,' Dye testified. He also said his department is regularly finding high school-age children with THC consumables. Mickey and Todd Harris — third-generation Austinites — are brothers and business partners who own The Happy Cactus, a CBD store. They are approaching their four-year anniversary of opening, but they worry with this new legislation will lead to the closure of their business and many like it around the state. 'We're just frustrated that they're trying to attack something that's been so beneficial to our community in Texas,' Harris explained. A complete THC ban would leave their business with just one product eligible to be sold that is currently on their shelf. Their business also sells THC-drinks but that only makes up about 5% of their sales. They are against both bills and instead are asking lawmakers to require regulations instead of bans on THC products. The brothers say they regularly regulate the products they sell in their own store, and they would appreciate if the state required all businesses to do the same. 'So we could still supply all the products that Texans need, but still make sure that they're safe,' Harris explained. The Happy Cactus is actually located across the street from Crockett Early College High School, which has became a major concern for those who support a complete ban on THC products. The brothers sent a letter to the principal of the school to work with them on making sure no high school children are even entering their business. In the four years of being opened, the brothers say they have never had an issue with a high school student coming into their store as they always card everyone who comes to make sure they're over the age of 21. The letters can be read below: Letter to Crockett Early College High SchoolDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
