[PRESS RELEASE] – AUSTIN, Texas, March 18, 2025 – Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick visited Happy Cactus in Austin, Texas, which is a hemp-legal retailer. Patrick’s age was verified by the staff when Patrick entered the store. The employee asked for his identification to verify that he was older than 21.
Happy Cactus followed standards for best practices set by organizations such as the Cannabis Retailers Alliance for Texas. Patrick wanted to know if hemp products that contained more than 50 mg of THC in each serving, such as gummies were available. Todd Harris told Patrick that products containing more than 50mg of hemp THC were available. It is not clear how to get there. The store has the product.
Patrick claimed students from Crockett High School were in the store. Harris claimed that everyone entering the shop is required to show proof of age. Harris’ attorney warned Crockett High School administrators to keep students out of the store over six months ago.
“We are proud of our team here at Happy Cactus,” Harris said. They handled the visit with professionalism and respect, and according to best practices for Texas hemp retailers. “We are proud to be able to supply a legal hemp product which helps so many in our community including seniors and veterans.”
Patrick’s visit to Happy Cactus coincides with the lieutenant Governor’s push to pass legislation that will ban hemp-derived THC-based products, which have a monetary impact estimated at $8 billion in Texas.
Texas’ Lieutenant governor lists THC ban as top priority for 2025
“We are grateful that Lieutenant Governor Patrick decided to investigate stores on his own,” said David Sergi, of Sergi & Associates. We are delighted that the Lieutenant Governor chose Happy Cactus, as they represent one of best practices for running a business. They carry high-quality products and are very careful to make sure their goods don’t fall into the hands of bad people. They even ‘carded’ Lieutenant Governor Patrick without knowing who he was.”
Sergi has The Happy Cactus as a client. Sergi told the lieutenant-governor that he saw the hemp retailer doing things right.
Sergi explained: “He found out that we sent an anti-trespassing letter to Crockett High School, because we did not want any of their students coming into our shop.” Sergi said that he also discovered their students don’t try to get into our shop anymore. “Happy Cactus is doing things the right way like many of our peers in this industry.”