Latest news with #TexasOriginal
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas lawmakers look to expand law on use of medical marijuana
The Brief Texas lawmakers are looking to expand the law that allows the use of medical marijuana Lawmakers are also looking to bans most products containing THC Time is running out on the legislation AUSTIN, Texas - Texas lawmakers are looking to expand the law that allows the use of medical marijuana. The expansion comes as lawmakers are also looking to clamp down on hemp products sold across the state. Medical marijuana legislation A medical marijuana dispensary, located in south Austin, is one of three operating under a state license. Since the program began in 2018, it's estimated that about 110,000 people have been helped. This highly-regulated business is now ready to grow, according to Texas Original CEO Nico Richardson. "We're very hopeful that our case has been heard now by the legislature. They understand that the people we are helping are some of the most necessary medical patients in Texas," said Richardson. Dig deeper Back in April, the House Public Health committee voted out HB 46. On Tuesday, in the state Senate a companion bill, SB 1505, was ready for its floor debate. The legislation increases the number of licensed medical cannabis dispensaries from three to six. It also allows the license holders to set up satellite offices in different parts of Texas. In the House hearing, Richardson explained the reasoning for that. "We put it into our distribution cars. We'll drive that across the state of Texas if a patient is not there for delivery. In El Paso or Rio Grande Valley or East Texas. We have to drive it back that day as soon as possible and put it back into storage in that one facility," said Richardson as he testified in April. The proposed legislation expands what's known as the Texas Compassionate Use law. "The second piece where it's really going to help actually is just the cost of the medicine, which is we're already pretty competitively priced with what people can go find in this unregulated hemp market, as long as they're buying Delta nine that's plant-derived. If they're buying all the other synthetic garbage like Delta eight and everything else, nobody can compete with that," said Richardson. Hemp industry legislation Dig deeper Lawmakers are also looking to clamp down on the unregulated hemp industry. SB 3 bans most products containing THC, like gummies and beverages. There is a compromise bill to regulate the products and create a licensing process, but Richardson warns that could involve nearly 10,000 businesses. "I mean just the agency you'd have to build up to go in and to make sure all those people are selling properly regulated products, you can't do it. So, the first thing they have to do if they want to regulate an industry is shrink the retail count down to something that actually matches our population when you look at the rest of the country, which basically means wiping out 90% of the retail in the state of Texas to begin with. And nobody wants to do that on the hemp side," said Richardson. Two years ago, time ran out on similar legislation to expand the compassionate use law. There's less than a month left in this session. The Source Information from the Texas legislative session
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two medical marijuana bills could lower prices and cut patient wait times
TYLER, Texas (KETK) — Two bills are being considered in the 89th legislative session dealing with medical marijuana, which could lower cost and wait times. Gladewater welcomes all coffee lovers to Starbucks grand opening House Bill 46 and Senate Bill 1505 will allow licensed companies like Texas Original, a medical cannabis provider in Austin, to store prescriptions at satellite locations. 'Patients go there to pick up their medicine, but they have to order from us the day before and we have to drive those prescriptions to each of those locations the morning of every morning,' Texas Original CEO Nico Richardson said. The bills could lower cost and wait times for patients and allow people under the Compassionate Use Act to use vapor products instead of just consuming their prescriptions. The Compassionate Use Act regulates the use of medical marijuana. 'It's a more stable form when it goes in through your lungs, it stays as delta nine THC, which is a bigger compound,' Richardson said. Senate Bill 3 is also a top priority that calls for a complete ban of all forms of THC in the state. This creates a sense of confusion for lawmakers. 'I haven't looked at the bill you know that closely since it came out of the senate, but it's my understanding that a total ban of THC would, you know, end the good uses of medical THC as well,' State Rep. Gary Vandever said. In a statement, the office of the Lieutenant Governor says the outcome of the bill will not change the Compassionate Use Program. State Representative Gary Vandeaver of New Boston says he hopes it's true, but he still wouldn't support SB3. 'Not do a total ban, but that, you know, keeps it available and certain, you know, strengths very highly regulated, available for adult use,' Rep. Vandeaver said. CHRISTUS Health hospitals earn top safety rating in East Texas The house currently has its own THC law, House Bill 28, which would add more regulations in place of a complete ban. Rep. Vandeaver said he believes state representatives would be more supportive of it. 'Then, you know, it will go to a conference between the house and the senate, and we'll figure it out, we'll figure out, you know, what we can agree on, if we can't agree on anything, then the bill dies,' Rep. Vandeaver said. Texas Original said the state has to act now to not only regulate the hemp industry, but also fix the Compassionate Use Act. 'If we want the program to exist, one of those two bills has to go through, work its way through legislature, otherwise, you know, this is probably a dying program here,' Richardson said. Lawmakers have until June 2nd to decide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
02-04-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Texas Original Opens First Medical Cannabis Pickup Location in New Braunfels
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 2, 2025-- Texas Original, Texas' leading medical cannabis provider, recently opened the first temporary pickup location in New Braunfels. The new location marks the 19th pickup site Texas Original operates throughout the state. Located at 1433 Hanz Drive, Suite 110, the New Braunfels location is open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The site offers Texas Original's full suite of medical cannabis products to qualifying patients registered under the state's Compassionate Use Program. 'Each time we open our doors in a new location, it's another promise kept to Texans seeking relief with medical cannabis,' said Nico Richardson, CEO of Texas Original. 'These pickup locations are critical anchors for patients to ensure they can reliably access their medicine with as few obstacles as possible.' San Antonio resident Elissa turned to Texas Original's medical cannabis for relief after her breast cancer diagnosis in 2022. She experienced severe depression, anxiety, appetite loss and sleep issues during treatment and couldn't find relief with traditional pharmaceuticals. 'It was not the quality of life I wanted,' Elissa said. 'Thankfully, medical cannabis is my saving grace. With Texas Original's products, I can sleep through the night, ease joint pain and, most importantly to me, reduce the occurrence of panic attacks and mood swings as a result of my cancer treatment. Without the help of medical cannabis, I am unsure if I could've found the strength in myself to fight and continue to fight to this day.' Texas Original also extended hours of operations at its permanent locations in San Antonio and North Austin. The San Antonio location (1464 Austin Hwy, Suite 104) now operates Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The North Austin site (10222 Pecan Park Blvd, Suite 3) will now be open on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in addition to the site's existing hours (Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.). The New Braunfels opening follows two product launches from Texas Original: a new 1:1 topical balm for targeted and localized relief and a sugar-free version of its 10mg Watermelon Kiwi gummies—the first sugar-free alternative in Texas Original's line of 0:1 THC-only gummies. To learn more about Texas Original's products and whether you or a loved one qualify for medical cannabis, visit the Texas Original website. About Texas Original Texas Original is the leading licensed medical cannabis producer in Texas, working alongside physicians to provide the highest quality cannabis medicine to patients and families seeking relief across the state. As fellow Texans, we are dedicated to representing the integrity of this great state with our commitment to quality, consistency and purity in every product we produce. We remain committed to advancing safe, legal access to this powerful medicine. Texas Original is headquartered in Austin, with delivery throughout the entire state. For more information, visit Emma Chase 512-917-4319 SOURCE: Texas Original Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 04/02/2025 09:30 AM/DISC: 04/02/2025 09:33 AM
