Latest news with #TexasSenateBill3
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Your CBD Store® and Independent Business Owners Oppose SB 3: A Call to Action for Texas Residents
Sunmed™ | Your CBD Store® asks Texas Governor Greg Abbott to Veto Senate Bill 3 AUSTIN, Texas, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunmed™ | Your CBD Store® stands in firm opposition to Texas Senate Bill 3 (SB 3), which threatens the livelihood of thousands of small and independent Texas merchants and business owners and denies access to a wide range of wellness and therapeutic products. This Bill, if signed into law, will have devastating consequences for Texas's small business community, including the loss of over 53,000 jobs and the closure of 8,000 businesses. Key Concerns: Massive Job LossSB 3 jeopardizes more than 53,000 jobs in the Texas hemp industry, directly threatening the livelihoods of families across the state. Severe Economic ImpactThe Bill's economic repercussions are extensive and disproportionately harmful to small and independently owned businesses that depend on the sale and merchandising of hemp products. A fiscal note from the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) projects a net negative impact of $19.27 million to general revenue-related funds for the biennium ending August 31, 2027. These losses are expected to increase annually, reaching an estimated $11.69 million by 2030. These projections are considered conservative, and the actual impact is expected to be significantly greater. (Source: Texas Senate Bill 3: Dan Patrick's Ban on All THC Products - Texas Policy Research) Reduced Consumer ChoiceSB 3 does not reflect the interests of Texas residents, who have consistently voiced strong support for accessible and responsibly regulated hemp products. Public hearings have included extensive testimony opposing the Bill, highlighting overwhelming community support. Overly Restrictive RegulationsThe Bill effectively amounts to an industry-wide ban by limiting permissible hemp-derived consumables to only isolated forms of CBD and CBG. These limitations exclude a variety of THC-free, broad-spectrum products that consumers rely on, and force businesses to develop entirely new product lines to remain compliant. Unsustainable Costs for Small BusinessesSB 3 imposes burdensome licensing fees of $20,000 annually for retailers and $10,000 per year plus $500 per product for manufacturers. These fees place an undue financial strain on small businesses, threatening their sustainability. Call to ActionWe urge all Texans to oppose SB 3. Contact Governor Abbott and request that he veto this harmful legislation: Call Governor Abbott: (512) 463-2000 Email the Governor: Contact Form Sign the Texas Hemp Business Council Petition: Sign Petition Sign the U.S. Hemp Roundtable Petition: Sign Petition Sunmed™ | Your CBD Store® stands with small businesses and the Texas communities they serve. We believe in protecting consumer access to safe, effective hemp products and supporting the local entrepreneurs who provide them. Join us in defending our industry, our economy, and our right to choose. Contact Patrick ShatzerSunmed l Your CBD Storecustomersupport@ About Sunmed™ | Your CBD Store® Sunmed | Your CBD Store, an affiliate of Sunflora, Inc., is the largest hemp retailer in the United States and the exclusive home of award-winning, hemp-derived Sunmed products. With 300+ nationwide locations across 42 states, the brand offers a premium in-store customer experience with access to 150+ nonpharmaceutical wellness formulas, including clinically proven sleep gummies, pain relief topicals, USDA-organic oil tinctures, and CBD for pets. Through in-store education, community involvement, and groundbreaking clinical research, Sunmed strives to empower modern wellness and enhance people's lives with natural science-backed products. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Sunmed Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Your CBD Store® and Independent Business Owners Oppose SB 3: A Call to Action for Texas Residents
Sunmed™ | Your CBD Store® asks Texas Governor Greg Abbott to Veto Senate Bill 3 AUSTIN, Texas, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunmed™ | Your CBD Store® stands in firm opposition to Texas Senate Bill 3 (SB 3), which threatens the livelihood of thousands of small and independent Texas merchants and business owners and denies access to a wide range of wellness and therapeutic products. This Bill, if signed into law, will have devastating consequences for Texas's small business community, including the loss of over 53,000 jobs and the closure of 8,000 businesses. Key Concerns: Massive Job LossSB 3 jeopardizes more than 53,000 jobs in the Texas hemp industry, directly threatening the livelihoods of families across the state. Severe Economic ImpactThe Bill's economic repercussions are extensive and disproportionately harmful to small and independently owned businesses that depend on the sale and merchandising of hemp products. A fiscal note from the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) projects a net negative impact of $19.27 million to general revenue-related funds for the biennium ending August 31, 2027. These losses are expected to increase annually, reaching an estimated $11.69 million by 2030. These projections are considered conservative, and the actual impact is expected to be significantly greater. (Source: Texas Senate Bill 3: Dan Patrick's Ban on All THC Products - Texas Policy Research) Reduced Consumer ChoiceSB 3 does not reflect the interests of Texas residents, who have consistently voiced strong support for accessible and responsibly regulated hemp products. Public hearings have included extensive testimony opposing the Bill, highlighting overwhelming community support. Overly Restrictive RegulationsThe Bill effectively amounts to an industry-wide ban by limiting permissible hemp-derived consumables to only isolated forms of CBD and CBG. These limitations exclude a variety of THC-free, broad-spectrum products that consumers rely on, and force businesses to develop entirely new product lines to remain compliant. Unsustainable Costs for Small BusinessesSB 3 imposes burdensome licensing fees of $20,000 annually for retailers and $10,000 per year plus $500 per product for manufacturers. These fees place an undue financial strain on small businesses, threatening their sustainability. Call to ActionWe urge all Texans to oppose SB 3. Contact Governor Abbott and request that he veto this harmful legislation: Call Governor Abbott: (512) 463-2000 Email the Governor: Contact Form Sign the Texas Hemp Business Council Petition: Sign Petition Sign the U.S. Hemp Roundtable Petition: Sign Petition Sunmed™ | Your CBD Store® stands with small businesses and the Texas communities they serve. We believe in protecting consumer access to safe, effective hemp products and supporting the local entrepreneurs who provide them. Join us in defending our industry, our economy, and our right to choose. Contact Patrick ShatzerSunmed l Your CBD Storecustomersupport@ About Sunmed™ | Your CBD Store® Sunmed | Your CBD Store, an affiliate of Sunflora, Inc., is the largest hemp retailer in the United States and the exclusive home of award-winning, hemp-derived Sunmed products. With 300+ nationwide locations across 42 states, the brand offers a premium in-store customer experience with access to 150+ nonpharmaceutical wellness formulas, including clinically proven sleep gummies, pain relief topicals, USDA-organic oil tinctures, and CBD for pets. Through in-store education, community involvement, and groundbreaking clinical research, Sunmed strives to empower modern wellness and enhance people's lives with natural science-backed products. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Sunmed Sign in to access your portfolio
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
04-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
SB 3 could impact veterans using legal hemp products: FOX 7 Care Force
The Brief Texas Senate Bill 3 could impact a lot of veterans currently using legal hemp products to treat physical and mental health issues. SB 3 passed the Texas Senate and is scheduled for a public House hearing next week. Mitch Fuller with the VFW joins Mike Warren to discuss in this Care Force. AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Senate Bill 3 could affect a lot of veterans. SB 3 would prevent the sale of currently legal hemp products, including cannabinoid or CBD products. However, thousands of Texas veterans use these products to treat issues related to post-traumatic stress and other conditions. SB 3 passed the Texas Senate on March 19. What they're saying Mitch Fuller, the legislative chairman of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, joined FOX 7 Austin's Mike Warren to discuss SB 3. Warren: SB3, what's your take on SB3? Fuller: This will make all THC products illegal in Texas, except for the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which is the very limited and expensive medical marijuana program. And among those products are hemp-derived consumables that have a .03 level of THC that a lot of us use, including me. Warren: For veterans that are using this, if SB3 passes, what could this mean? Fuller: This is one of many options in the toolbox that is an effective alternative to the pharmaceutical cocktail of opioids and antidepressants that the VAs, that's their default position to treat physical and mental health elements. Hemp-derived consumables, Mike, have helped a lot of us, thousands of us get off of that pharmaceutical cocktail and this is not about getting high, this is about being impaired, this about being able to function and be productive in our jobs. and our families. And so this would be devastating to the veteran community and it's not just veterans. There are millions of Texans, non-veterans who use this product as well. Warren: Dan Patrick, the lieutenant governor, very serious about this bill. What would you like to communicate to him to say, you know, this is important for veterans? Fuller: I would say Lieutenant Governor Patrick, please work with the good actors in the industry and the veterans community. A total ban is not the answer. More regulation, more testing to ensure that the products, all products are 0.03. Regulate more, not ban. Work on packaging, require it to be 21 years old to buy it. Don't make any packaging look like candy like the old Joe Camel days when the tobacco industry was, right. Warren: If SB3 were to pass, what alternatives are there for veterans who are using these products? Fuller: You're taking an alternative that a lot of us use away from us, which is wrong. It's dead wrong. It's gonna force a lot of us to look at other alternatives. The Texas Compassion Use Program, we support expanding that too. That needs to be expanded and improved, more licensees, and also lower the cost of it. The VA does not cover any of this because marijuana is illegal federally. What's next SB 3 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Texas House State Affairs Committee on Monday, April 7. The Source Information in this report comes from the FOX 7 Care Force interview with Mitch Fuller and previous reporting by FOX 7 Austin.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'A poison in our public': Texas Senate passes SB 3, THC ban backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
The Texas Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would ban nearly all forms of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Texas Senate Bill 3 is backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and seeks to tighten regulations around THC products sold in convenience stores and vape shops. Patrick first launched the bill in December, calling for the ban of all consumable tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) being sold. The bill passed 24-7. It still needs to be passed by the Texas House before Gov. Greg Abbott can sign it into law. Patrick attended a morning news conference along with law enforcement officers and advocates for families of those who exhibited behavioral health problems after consuming THC products. "This is a poison in our public, and we as a Legislature — our No. 1 responsibility is life and death issues," Patrick said. "We're going to ban your stores before we leave here, for good." The Lieutenant Governor also had a stern warning for THC retailers. "You might want to voluntarily close your doors, because the investigations are going to continue, and I'm sure the lawsuits are about to come," Patrick added. "You know what you're doing." The Texas House has yet to discuss its own hemp proposal. House Bill 28 would create stricter regulations for hemp, including "requiring a registration, imposing fees, creating criminal offenses and providing an administrative penalty." State Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), the lead author of SB 3, seemed hopeful that the Senate and House are "philosophically aligned." Patrick echoed this sentiment, saying he'd discussed the issue with House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) and Abbott. "We're all on the same page," Patrick said. "We're going to protect the people of Texas from THC." Will Texas ban THC products? What to know about Senate Bill 3, backed by GOP lawmakers Not all were in favor of Senate Bill 3, especially regarding its impact on businesses. While debating the bill, Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin) suggested hemp should be more strongly regulated rather than outright banned. "I believe this bill goes too far, in that it would put out of business the consumable hemp industry in Texas," Eckhardt said. Mark Bordas, executive director of the Texas Hemp Business Council, took a similar stance and added lawmakers weren't appropriately acknowledging the difference between consumable hemp, with low concentrations of THC, and marijuana, with higher potencies. "We have a common enemy. We know who's doing wrong," Bordas said. "We'd both like to eliminate them, but the problem is, the lieutenant governor and Senator Perry are going to eliminate the entire business — including over 7,000 licensed dispensaries." "Bans don't work," Bordas continued. "All it's going to do is encourage the bad actors to fill the vacuum." Earlier this month, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller also spoke out against a ban. "I'm kind of torn between because we have never wanted recreational marijuana. And that's basically what this is," Miller said. "But now, you got 8,000 businesses, mostly mom and pops, that have put their life savings into opening these new businesses. And we might put them out of business." Marijuana laws in Texas are confusing. Here's a guide to know what is and isn't legal The Lone Star State has not broadly legalized cannabis in any form. While recreational marijuana remains illegal, medical marijuana is permissible in certain circumstances. In 2015, Texas passed the Compassionate-Use Act, which allowed the first legal use of low-THC cannabis products in the state for patients with intractable epilepsy. It was expanded in 2019 and 2021 to include other conditions. Chapter 169 of the Texas Occupations Code states that patients suffering from the following are allowed to use low-THC cannabis products: epilepsy seizure disorders multiple sclerosis spasticity amyotrophic lateral sclerosis autism cancer post-traumatic stress disorder an incurable neurodegenerative disease Marijuana remains illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). It is listed as a Schedule I controlled substance, under strict regulations by the federal government, and has "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse." — The Texas Tribune contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas THC ban one step closer to becoming law after Senate passes bill
