Latest news with #HillCountry
CNN
17 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
Texas could soon ban THC products. The state's booming cannabis industry is fighting back
Holden Hylander carefully trims the top of a hemp plant inside a greenhouse, one of 3,000 plants that he oversees at this farm nestled in the sprawling Hill Country of Texas. Once processed, these crops will be turned into millions of gummies that are sold legally in the burgeoning THC market throughout the state. But those products may never make it to the shelves, as a bipartisan-passed bill now awaits Gov. Greg Abbott's signature to ban the sale and possession of THC consumables. By the time Hylander's plants are fully grown and ready to harvest in September, the products they become might be illegal. 'We spent a lot of time getting our processes down and following the rules,' said Hylander, director of farm operations for Hometown Hero, a veteran-owned cannabis company based in Austin. 'I've gotten licenses five years in a row and had zero complaints about what we do, but yet it's kind of getting pulled out from under us.' While marijuana is illegal in Texas, less potent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products became legal after a federal law in 2018 and a state law in 2019 essentially greenlit the hemp-growing industry. These laws were designed to expand agricultural opportunities for hemp farmers and allow the sale of CBD oils as wellness products, but critics argue the legislation inadvertently paved the way for the sale of stronger substances, like delta-8 THC or delta-9 THC, which can mimic the effects of weed. CBD and THC both come from hemp plants and can be used to treat anxiety, sleep, and pain, but THC is more potent and has psychoactive effects. Both are currently legal in Texas, but THC levels must be less than .3% delta-9 THC. The new law, if it goes into effect, would only allow for the sale and possession of less-potent, non-intoxicating hemp-derived products, like CBD. In the past six years, the cannabinoid industry has skyrocketed in Texas, largely due to the stronger THC products. The industry generated $5.5 billion last year alone in sales revenue, $2.1 billion in wages and $267 million in tax revenue, according to estimates from Whitney Economics, a data firm that produces reports for the broader cannabis industry. Supporters worry that if the ban goes into place in September, many of the industry's 5,500 registered hemp sellers — along with tens of thousands of jobs — could disappear overnight and push the demand back into the black market. According to the Department of State Health Services, registered sellers sell THC products at about 8,600 locations, many of them gas stations and convenience stores. While the ban would exempt products that only contain non-psychoactive compounds such as CBD, industry leaders say the market for those products alone is not profitable or sustainable for retailers who solely focus on hemp products. 'This ban is a gift to the cartels,' state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat who opposed the bill, said in a speech last month. Leading the charge against THC products is the state's conservative lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, who accuses the industry of producing items that far exceed the legal .3% limit of THC and marketing those products – like gummies, cookies and chips – to children. Supporters of the ban say the products are too easily available and have become a public safety issue, citing examples of adults and children who've experienced medical problems after consuming them. 'Nothing is more important than stopping a kid getting a hold of this junk,' said Patrick at a fiery news conference last week after the bill had been passed. It's unclear whether Abbott plans to sign or veto the bill. If he doesn't take action by June 22, the bill automatically becomes law. A spokesperson from his office told CNN the governor 'will thoughtfully review any legislation sent to his desk.' The hemp industry and opponents of the ban say the lieutenant governor is grossly misrepresenting the manufacturing of these products. They argue that legislators created the industry in the first place, and that the vast majority of hemp companies are responsible businesses that closely follow industry and state-mandated standards. They say the products have become a popular and safer alternative to pharmaceutical drugs and alcohol for help with anxiety, pain and sleep – and that the number of adults who benefit far outweighs the rare examples of those who experience extreme symptoms. It's also an industry that's thriving off a national trend of people moving away from alcoholic beverages. According to a 2024 study, a higher number of Americans reported using cannabis every day than drinking alcohol daily. On Monday at the state Capitol, a coalition of military veterans, farmers and business owners – along with the Texas Hemp Business Council – wheeled boxes into the governor's office with what they say are 5,000 handwritten letters and a petition with more than 100,000 signatures from Texans who want Abbott to veto the bill, known as SB3. 'SB3 violates the very principles Texas prides itself on: small government, individual freedom, and free enterprise,' said Cynthia Cabrera, president of the Texas Hemp Business Council. Texas isn't the only state that's wrestled with the emergence of these products. According to a 2023 report from The National Cannabis Industry Association, 17 states have banned delta-8 THC, for example, and seven states have severely restricted it. Last year, the Florida legislature passed a bill that would significantly restrict the sale of hemp-derived THC products, but Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed it, saying the regulations would be 'debilitating' to small businesses. In Texas, some law enforcement officials have spoken out against the growing industry and claim that more access to cannabis poses dangers to users. 'We see the psychotic episodes. We see the suicide attempt,' said Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis at a news conference hosted by the lieutenant governor last week. 'We sit down with parents who are heartbroken and devastated after something has happened with their child, after they consume something that everybody thought was safe.' Joel Rodriguez, a 25-year-old college student, said he's still recovering from what he called an addiction to THC products that he purchased online and at vape shops in the McAllen, Texas area. In 2022, Rodriguez said, he took one hit from a vape product that he said contained a mixture of synthetic delta-9 and delta-8, as well as two other cannabinoids known as HHC and THC-P, though he doesn't recall the exact brand. He said he immediately felt symptoms of paranoia that didn't subside for weeks. 'Everything started getting dizzy. I started to hear voices. I could hear people's thoughts. I would hear things crawling out of the walls,' he told CNN. 'I thought the sun was talking to me.' His family got him medical attention at a hospital, where he said he was diagnosed with cannabis-induced psychosis and prescribed a variety of prescription drugs. Rodriguez said he continued using vape products that he purchased in the Rio Grande Valley, and his family got him support at rehabilitation centers in Texas and Utah over the past three years. To this day, he said he's still taking clozapine to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and will need it indefinitely. He and his mother, Didi, appeared at a news conference at the Texas state Capitol on Monday to urge Abbott to sign the bill. 'In the world of cannabis-induced psychosis, we as families, we struggle to fight for our loved ones' well-being and put them back in … the path of wellness,' she said. 'It's a dark, horror-filled war against unseen enemies.' While incidents of cannabis-induced psychosis are rare, more studies are being done on why some people seem to be more susceptible than others. The votes on this bill have not fallen along strict party lines. Democratic State Sen. Roland Gutierrez voted with Patrick to ban these THC products. Gutierrez told CNN that while he wants to see Texas fully legalize and regulate cannabis, the current law in Texas has opened the door to many 'bad actors' selling dangerous synthetic products to young people. What we're selling to kids on the street and in convenience stores is just a bunch of crap,' Gutierrez said. The senator said he supported the move to ban THC products after lawmakers also voted to expand the ability of military veterans to get prescriptions under the state's restrictive medical marijuana program. 'Cannabis is a great healer of many things. It has to be regulated in some way,' Gutierrez said. 'But that's not what's happening in Texas.' Industry experts concede there may be some bad actors selling products that contain synthetics or illegal amounts of THC, but they say the overwhelming majority of companies follow the rules because they want to stay in business. Groups like the Texas Hemp Business Council have lobbied for more regulations, like age minimums, in previous legislative sessions but have not succeeded. 'I don't understand how Texas politicians can decide they're gonna create something. And then on a whim, six years later decide, 'Eh, we don't like how this went. We're gonna completely wipe it out. We're gonna shut down the industry and we're gonna harm all these individuals and all these small businesses in Texas,'' said Lukas Gilkey, co-founder of Hometown Hero, the Austin-based company that owns the hemp farm where Holden Hylander works. In Patrick's news conference last month, he displayed a variety of THC products before the cameras and specifically focused on a bag of edibles made by Hometown Hero. 'I don't know what's in it because no one knows what's in it,' he said. 'It can poison you — not just children, but adults.' Gilkey said he chuckled when he saw Patrick pick on his company's edibles, because his products label all of the ingredients and include a QR code on the packaging for people who want to learn more about the product. He said the products are sent to Drug Enforcement Administration partner labs and go through rigorous testing for accuracy standards, as well as testing for harmful constituents. 'He tries to make it seem like there's no regulation on these products when that's the opposite. This industry is heavily regulated within Texas. We have a lot of requirements that we have to go through to be fully legal within Texas,' Gilkey told CNN. 'We show everything we're required to by law.' If the ban goes into effect, roughly 200 employees at his company could be out of a job, he said. 'I moved here because the governor himself said that this was a state that supported small businesses,' said Gilkey, a Coast Guard veteran who also serves as an advocate for the hemp industry. 'That's why he came here. And now to be in a position where the state is deciding that they changed their mind on something is very unfortunate.' After fierce debate, lawmakers ultimately passed reforms this legislative session to expand the state's medical cannabis law as a concession. The new provisions increase the number of licensed dispensaries from three to 12 and add 'chronic pain' as an eligible medical condition. However, critics say the reforms are hardly enough to help the large population of Texans who use THC products for symptoms. Dave Walden, an Army veteran and senior vice commander for the VFW Department of Texas, said at a news conference on Monday that he became reliant on opioids while seeking care at the VA but said the drugs 'nearly destroyed' him. 'Since 2018, I haven't touched a single opioid,' he said, holding up a THC product. 'I've rebuilt my life. I've become a better leader, a better husband, a better father, and ultimately a better man. But now Senate Bill 3 wants to turn this into contraband. It wants to turn me and thousands of other veterans into criminals for choosing an alternative that works for us.' State Rep. Brian Harrison was among two House Republicans who opposed the ban. He further bucked his own party on Monday by publicly calling for Abbott to veto the bill, describing it as government overreach that will lead to an economic disaster. 'The government is not your parent,' he told CNN on Monday. 'And I'm very concerned about what it's going to do to Texas adults who want, or who rely on these products, and it either pushing them into much more dangerous and unregulated black markets or to more deadly and addictive pharmaceuticals.'
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Texan Trio Aims To Bring Regenerative Meats To American Dinner Tables
Katie Forrest, Taylor Collins, and Robby Sansom of Force of Nature. About an hour outside of Austin, near Fredericksburg, Texas, amidst Hill Country, three successful entrepreneurs have decided to invest in a new venture -- one that includes 900 acres of open lands, currently occupied by bison, turkeys, and pigs to name a few. Katie Forrest and Taylor Collins had started Epic Provisions over a decade ago after being endurance athletes who had shifted to a Paleo diet for nutrition. Robby Sansom, a close friend who was also interest in the food industry, had joined them as CFO and COO at Epic. The trio grew the company, and then sold it to General Mills for reportedly $100 million. While they continued to work with General Mills on how to grow Epic (and learn the pain points along the way), it was with that success -- and some of those earnings -- that they set their eyes on what would be next: building a go-to supply chain of pasture-raised and grass-fed meats. They'd already been immersed in the world of jerky and dried meats, and were working with regenerative ranchers like White Oak Pastures in Georgia. So the world of regenerative agriculture was not new. But instead of creating a snack, they wanted to create a one-stop shop for healthier, grass-fed, pasture-raised meats (such as beef, bison, elk, venison, boar, and chicken). Thus, their latest venture is Force of Nature. And their home office, you could say, is Roam Ranch, where not only do they look after a herd of bison but also host events, run workshops, welcome guests, and even live full-time. As Collins pulls out the golf cart from the driveway, he points out the soil difference between his neighbor's and his. He jokes, 'Ours is full of weeds, and we kinda prefer it that way.' When they bought the land, he said it was sandy, drought-ridden dirt. Today, it's buzzing with activity, even though they've been dealing with drought in the region, Forrest explains. This regeneration of soil is partly due to the bison. 'Bison are nature's iteration of the perfect soil builders,' Sansom says. Their hooves press on the soil, with all their weight, 3,000 pounds worth, he explains. That chips away at the soil crust and incorporates organic matter. Plus, as they roll on their backs, they spread seeds into the ground, further encouraging native grasses and flowers to grow. It's mid-March on the ranch. 'If you come back in a month, this is a jungle, a real food forest. The diversity, the pollinators, there is just so much going on,' says Collins. Plus, there will be baby bison roaming around, says Forrest. 'The majority of the herd is females, and we had a 100% pregnancy rate, which is really incredible. That's a demonstration of health and contextual appropriateness. But imagine this being 70% more animals in a couple of months.' Bison, in the States, have gone from being in the millions to then in periods of near extinction (in the 1800s) and now are seeing a revival thanks to conservation efforts. Yellowstone, which has the largest herd, at about 5,000 animals is perhaps the best demonstration of conservation at work. But at Roam Ranch, Forrest and Collins are tending to Texas, or Southern bison, which are more compact animals than their northern counterparts -- albeit from the same family. And they too have roamed these lands wild in the past, as did black bears, mountain lines, and black panthers says Collins. But most of those are now extinct, he adds. Roam Ranch is an example of one of the many ranches, the Force of Nature team works with to procure their meat. These range from Kansas to South Dakota to Nebraska and Montana. Most are family-owned and they're focused on regenerative grazing and using livestock as a way to revitalize soils and the land. Now they're also tackling America's most popular meat: poultry. 'We didn't use to eat a lot of chicken one generation ago. We eat now 350% more chicken than people would have eaten in the 40s and 50s. And if you go back, historically, there would not have been tribes of people nomadically roaming the grasslands following flocks of chicken,' Sansom says. So it's a challenging problem to solve. Can poultry be done at scale and regeneratively? Not yet, he says, but they're trying. Ultimately, it may also require people to curb their chicken addiction. Much of the problem lies in human's tendency to want to dominate nature. 'When we foce corn to grow, soy to grow, or in this case, force chickens to flourish in a places and in quantities that would be inconsistent with the evolutionary context, we're out of sync.' But Force of Nature wants to be that one-stop shop for regenerative meat -- and that would include poultry. Thus, the trio are tackling one of the most popular meat sources in America and finding ways to do it more regeneratively. 'We're trying to justify making these changes so that we can be the first domino that cracks the door for others to follow,' says Sansom. 'It's not us alone that is going to solve this problem. It has to be a community of growers, producers, brands, and even consumers to find the solutions.' The Cornish Cross chicken, he explains, was the winner in the late 1940s, which was bred to be raised indoors and grew fast. 99% of the chickens consumed today come from this one breed. Force of Nature is not selling this breed; but instead a slow-growing heritage breed, where the goal isn't to multiply them in size in 5 weeks indoors, but allow them to have a more nutritious diet and a life outdoors. And Sansom says clearly that while they're working towards a better poultry industry, they don't feel that 'a regenerative chicken exists at scale today -- yet.' That's because chickens need feed as their main source of food. And for every one acre of pasture-raised chickens, almost 40 acres of food crops are needed. So the answer is not so simple, given the demand for chicken in today's diet. While the Force of Nature believes deeply in regenerative, Sansom says they don't use any regenerative claims on their packaging. 'We work with ROC, Regenify, Savory Institute's Land to Market, and other certifications because the ranchers we source from use those certifications, but we ourselves do not make those claims at this time.' Instead, it's something they do on the backend -- and they welcome questions from customers. But at the moment, they argue that the costs involved with adding certifications on the product could increase the prices further, which they're not keen to do. Plus, it means juggling expectations of different parties. Grocery store buyers, for example, he explains, want price points that are affordable while hitting these values. For them, velocity is a key word: how many units can you sell in a particular category. Given that the trio have been working in the food industry for over 15 years now, they're well-versed in the needs of the different parties involved in retail and distribution. That's why their meats today are available through their website directly and in over 4,000 retailers. 'We had one of the largest health food retailers out here in 2016 to talk them about a regenerative approach to meats. These things take time as people begin to understand that importance of what we're doing. And we want it to be a relationship and a partnership, not transactional,' Sansom adds. Forrest, Collins, and Sansom have all seen the ups and downs of building new supply chains; the challenges are endless. That said, they're not giving up on a vision where Americans eat less, but higher quality meat -- a real shift from the commoditized, industrial approach that has dominated in recent decades.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tornado watch issued for Central Texas; Travis Co. could see hail, storms through 10 p.m.
A tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m. Monday and includes Texas Hill Country counties like Llano, Blanco and Gillespie and stretches to Uvalde County and Eagle Pass. Travis County, Bexar County and 38 other Central Texas municipalities could see thunderstorms and damaging wind gusts Monday afternoon and night, the National Weather Service has announced. Austin, Georgetown, Burnet, Fredericksburg, Kerrville and surrounding areas face "enhanced risk" of severe thunderstorms and hail between 4 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday, according to the NWS. The chance of hail is 30 to 44% for the Hill Country and Interstate 35 corridor, and 15 to 29% for areas along and north of Interstate 10 and Texas 90. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: NWS warns of thunderstorms, hail, strong wind in Travis County
Hospitality Net
22-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Nick King has been appointed Director of Rooms at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa in Cedar Creek
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa, a Texas Hill Country destination resort set on 405 scenic acres along the Colorado River, is pleased to announce the appointment of Nick King as Director of Rooms. With over a decade of experience in hotel operations across multiple Hyatt properties, King brings a strong background in guest services, team leadership, and a passion for creating exceptional experiences. In his new role, King will oversee all aspects of the Rooms Division at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines, including front office, housekeeping, recreation, and guest services. His leadership will support the resort's continued commitment to warm, intuitive hospitality and its seamless blend of comfort, service, and natural beauty. King most recently served in leadership roles at Hyatt Regency Long Beach and Hyatt Regency San Francisco, where he oversaw key aspects of the Rooms Division and led high-performing teams across front office and guest services. He began his Hyatt career at Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach as a Bell Attendant and steadily advanced through positions of increasing responsibility across several Hyatt properties. Outside of work, King is an avid traveler and food enthusiast. Together with his wife Kristine—whom he met while working at Hyatt Regency San Francisco—he has explored more than 38 states, 15 countries, and three continents, with favorite destinations including Banff, Kauai, Porto, San Sebastian, Zion, and Dubrovnik. When not on the road, the couple enjoys time outdoors and relaxing with their two cats, Marble and Forrest.
Associated Press
17-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
VinoCadre Launches Air Charter Flights, an Exclusive Way to Explore the Elevated Texas Hill Country, Napa, and Sonoma
05/16/2025, Fredericksburg, Texas // PRODIGY: Feature Story // VinoCadre, an innovative marketing platform that unites wine professionals and engages consumers, is excited to announce the launch of its exclusive air charter flights. More than its next business milestone, the release symbolizes the company's commitment to transforming the wine-tasting experience into an unforgettable, palatable journey. To prepare for the first air charter flight on July 7th-10th, VinoCadre is currently accepting bookings, with more expeditions to follow soon after. VinoCadre Founded in 2015 in Saint Helena, California, VinoCadre has since expanded to the Texas Hill Country. The air charter flights will honor both destinations, promoting local wine education, curating unique food pairings, and offering high-end private tours of California and Texas's luscious vineyards. With a helicopter, fixed wing, and ground transportation included, exploring hidden gems has never been easier. Organized by the platform's wine specialists, the experience is as compelling as it is illuminating. This sky-high adventure is led by VinoCadre's founder, Andre Boada, an advanced sommelier, keynote speaker, and wine business consultant. Tapping into his 20 years of industry experience, combined with the intimate knowledge of winemakers, educators, and chefs who will accompany him, Boada's mission is simple: to enrich traditional wine-tasting with a lifestyle-driven philosophy. According to Boada, this is 'the pinnacle of wine-tasting experiences,' and the bespoke itinerary attests to that. This four-day, three-night trip is truly top-scale, from the very first moment guests step into the aircraft. During the flight, travelers can indulge in a high-end champagne seminar arranged by the founder before landing across the scenic vineyards of Napa and Sonoma. The activities that follow bring a unique fusion of adventure and serenity, addressing the needs of all visitors. While a helicopter ride up the mountain to peek behind the scenes of Napa wineries or driving through the vineyards of Sonoma provide the thrill, delectable dishes prepared by world-class chefs—each one paired with the most complementary glass of wine—unite guests over meaningful conversations and laughter. Through a partnership with a high-end local home division, VinoCadre can offer the most luxurious accommodation that further elevates the experience. On July 7th, guests will travel to Villa Montebella, a terracotta-colored mansion nestled amidst green rolling hills, where they will be greeted with a welcome party. Every attendee can enjoy their own suite, lavish amenities like a tennis court or an underground wine cave, and more. Villa Montebella, Wine Cave After the first excursion, VinoCadre is planning two more trips in August: 4th-7th and 25th-28th. Looking ahead, Boada envisions the experience entrenching its footprint across other villas and resorts, with the company continuously working toward a future where wine isn't only savored; it's enjoyed for the rich experience it offers. On a mission to unite communities through the palate, VinoCadre shows that, as the founder concludes, 'The power of wine goes beyond the glass.' Media Contact Name: Andre Boada Email: [email protected]
