Latest news with #hemp
Bloomberg
7 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Texas Wants to Kill a Cannabis Boom It Accidentally Helped Stoke
Texas is on the cusp of banning all recreational THC products after lawmakers passed a bill to reverse the unintended effects of hemp laws that led to a boom in shops selling gummies, joints, vapes and drinks that create a similar high to marijuana. The proposal, awaiting Governor Greg Abbott's signature, would outlaw almost all consumable hemp products except for non-psychoactive CBD and CBG. A separate measure expanding the state's medical use program for THC — the psychoactive molecule found in marijuana and at weaker concentrations in hemp — is also nearing final approval.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Albuquerque city councilors pass ordinance regulating hemp products
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – On Monday, Albuquerque city councilors passed an ordinance that would bring more oversight to the sale of hemp products. KRQE News 13's Larry Barker first exposed the problem of cannabis products being identified as hemp, allowing them to be sold anywhere, including convenience stores and gas stations. Marijuana Masquerade: Disguised cannabis illegally peddled at New Mexico convenience stores Monday night, city councilors passed a bill that brings regulation to hemp products. The piece of legislation sponsored by Councilor Dan Lewis bans synthetic cannabinoids exceeding 0.3% of THC. 'If you watch that Larry Barker investigation, he talked to enough people around Albuquerque. It's pretty widespread, and it certainly is happening in retail stores, and it is a poison that is causing problems with our kids,' said Councilor Lewis. Multiple hemp manufacturers showed up at the meeting, saying they feel like they are being targeted by the city. 'We are being targeted as if we are the problem. This ordinance offers no path for compliant and responsible businesses or manufacturers like us. Only penalties,' said Jeffrey Goncharoff, business owner. The ordinance passed on a 7-2 vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
UPDATE: Texas Hemp Industry Urges Governor Abbott to Veto SB 3 in Emergency Press Conference
Editor's Note: The time of the press conference has been updated to 9:30 a.m. CST. All other details remain the same. Farmers, Veterans, Small Business Owners and Hemp Advocates to Speak Out Against Bill's Threat to Jobs, Economic Growth and Freedom of Choice Over 100,000 Petition Signatures and Thousands of Handwritten Letters Expected to be Delivered to Governor's Office AUSTIN, Texas, June 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHAT: A coalition of concerned Texans will host a press conference to address Senate Bill 3 (SB 3), legislation that dismantles the legal hemp industry and ignores the voices of small businesses, farmers, veterans and consumers across the state who rely on hemp-derived products for their livelihoods and general well-being. WHO: Industry leaders, farmers, small business owners, veterans and consumer advocates will come together to voice their concerns about the bill's impact on jobs, agriculture and access to legal hemp-derived products. WHEN: Monday, June 2 at 9:30 a.m. CST WHERE: Texas Capitol House Press Conference Room 2W.6 1100 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 WHY: The Texas hemp industry is responding to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's ongoing false and inflammatory rhetoric, including his recent claim that hemp businesses 'want to kill your kids.' This kind of fearmongering vilifies law-abiding Texas farmers, veterans and small business owners and distracts from the real public health risks at hand. SB 3, passed by the Texas House, bans hemp-derived products without establishing a regulatory alternative. If signed into law, the bill will not only dismantle a $4.3 billion industry supporting over 53,000 jobs, but will also open the floodgates to unregulated, unsafe products in Texas. The Texas Hemp Business Council and its supporters are calling on Governor Abbott to veto SB 3 and stand with the hundreds of thousands of Texans, including small business owners, workers, consumers and veterans, who depend on this industry for jobs, economic opportunity and the freedom to choose hemp-derived products. VISUALS: About the Texas Hemp Business Council The Texas Hemp Business Council is an industry organization dedicated to promoting the hemp-based cannabinoid industry in Texas, while advocating for consumer safety, education and stakeholder engagement. More information is available at Media Contacts: Natalie Mu/George Medici PondelWilkinson 310.279.5980 [email protected]
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UPDATE: Texas Hemp Industry Urges Governor Abbott to Veto SB 3 in Emergency Press Conference
Editor's Note: The time of the press conference has been updated to 9:30 a.m. CST. All other details remain the same. Farmers, Veterans, Small Business Owners and Hemp Advocates to Speak Out Against Bill's Threat to Jobs, Economic Growth and Freedom of Choice Over 100,000 Petition Signatures and Thousands of Handwritten Letters Expected to be Delivered to Governor's Office AUSTIN, Texas, June 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHAT: A coalition of concerned Texans will host a press conference to address Senate Bill 3 (SB 3), legislation that dismantles the legal hemp industry and ignores the voices of small businesses, farmers, veterans and consumers across the state who rely on hemp-derived products for their livelihoods and general well-being. WHO: Industry leaders, farmers, small business owners, veterans and consumer advocates will come together to voice their concerns about the bill's impact on jobs, agriculture and access to legal hemp-derived products. WHEN: Monday, June 2 at 9:30 a.m. CST WHERE: Texas Capitol House Press Conference Room 2W.61100 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 WHY: The Texas hemp industry is responding to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's ongoing false and inflammatory rhetoric, including his recent claim that hemp businesses 'want to kill your kids.' This kind of fearmongering vilifies law-abiding Texas farmers, veterans and small business owners and distracts from the real public health risks at hand. SB 3, passed by the Texas House, bans hemp-derived products without establishing a regulatory alternative. If signed into law, the bill will not only dismantle a $4.3 billion industry supporting over 53,000 jobs, but will also open the floodgates to unregulated, unsafe products in Texas. The Texas Hemp Business Council and its supporters are calling on Governor Abbott to veto SB 3 and stand with the hundreds of thousands of Texans, including small business owners, workers, consumers and veterans, who depend on this industry for jobs, economic opportunity and the freedom to choose hemp-derived products. VISUALS: Coalition of farmers, veterans, business owners and industry leaders. Boxes of handwritten letters to be delivered to the governor's office. Petition signage. Veterans sharing personal stories. About the Texas Hemp Business Council The Texas Hemp Business Council is an industry organization dedicated to promoting the hemp-based cannabinoid industry in Texas, while advocating for consumer safety, education and stakeholder engagement. More information is available at Media Contacts: Natalie Mu/George Medici PondelWilkinson 310.279.5980 nmu@
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Veterans lobby Governor Abbott on THC Ban as SB3 awaits signature
The Brief Governor Greg Abbott has yet to announce if he will sign or veto Senate Bill 3, which bans THC products. Veterans are lobbying the Governor to veto SB3, arguing that hemp-derived products are a positive alternative to opioids and alcohol. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick supports the ban, stating it's crucial for protecting children and expanding the Texas Compassionate Use Program as an alternative. Governor Abbott declined to say whether he'll sign Senate Bill 3 into law, banning THC products. The legislature sent the bill to the governor's desk, but some veterans are putting pressure on the governor to veto it. The Texas Department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) says it has a meeting with Governor Greg Abbott's team tomorrow to talk about why the veteran organization wants him to veto SB3. During a news conference today, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and other lawmakers stressed that with the passing of SB3, they are expanding the Texas Compassionate Use Program as another option. The VFW said that's not enough. The fight is not over, as veterans are now lobbying for the governor to veto the bill. What they're saying The national and state legislative chairman for the Texas VFW, Mitch Fuller, says veterans testified in front of lawmakers about how these products have been a positive alternative to opioids and alcohol. "A blanket ban here is going to be pretty devastating to our community," said Fuller. "One of the points we've made is that a lot of us choose hemp-derived consumables because they're more affordable, accessible, and effective in many cases." Fuller says the VFW was happy to see the program expanded, but they want both options. Fuller has a meeting set up with the governor's team on Thursday. All he wants is for them to hear him out. "This is about letting veterans choose what works best for them," said Fuller. "We're combat veterans, we've been hit, we've been in rough environments, we've been knocked down, but we're not going to quit fighting." Senate bill three was a priority of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. During a news conference on Wednesday, Patrick emphasized the importance of the bill and demonstrated it with products that he says contain THC. "Nothing is more important than keeping a kid from getting a hold of this junk!" Patrick, along with other lawmakers, acknowledged that there are some helpful products and another bill was passed to expand the Texas Compassionate Use program, which provides medical marijuana in limited situations. Since the bill passed through both the senate and house, it has moved to the governor's desk. A spokesperson for Governor Abbott told FOX 4 on Wednesday, "Governor Abbott will thoughtfully review any legislation sent to his desk." Patrick says he's not worried. "I pass bills, the governor either signs or vetoes them. I know the governor, I know where his heart is, and I know where he wants to be to protect children and adults." What's next Governor Abbott has 10 days to act after the end of the session. He can sign it, let it go into law without his signature, or veto it. The Source Information in this article was provided by the Texas Legislature and interviews conducted by FOX 4's Amelia Jones with the Texas VFW chairman.
