According to a recent poll, Texas Republican primary voters are against a bill that recently sent the Governor’s desk a proposal banning hemp products with THC.
Governor Abbott has declined to say how he will act on SB 3, which advocates and stakeholders claim would decimate the state’s hemp industry. Greg Abbott (R) has declined to say how he’ll act on SB 3—which advocates and stakeholders say would decimate the state’s hemp industry—the policy change evidently isn’t being embraced by voters, including a plurality of Republicans (47 percent) who voiced opposition, the survey from Ragnar Research Partners, commissioned the Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC), found.
According to the council, opposition is even stronger for those with active duty or ex-military members in the household.
The poll also showed that 72 per cent of Republican voters believe that vets should be able to access THC as an alternative for opioids. A further 53 percent of respondents said that the proposed SB 3 ban would “create opportunities” for drug cartels and increase illicit markets sales.
Mark Bordas’, executive director at THBC stated in a release that “Texans don’t want SB 3”. The Texans see SB 3 as it really is, an assault on their rights and freedoms that will result in the destruction of tens thousands of jobs.
We respectfully request that the Governor listen to small business owners and Republican primary voters who are asking him to reject this bill. He said that they had conducted the most reliable poll, which included the voters least likely to be in favor of their cause. Even among Republican primary vote-getters, SB 3’s ban and the legislation that it contains are unpopular. This is not a Republican or a Democrat issue—it’s about preserving economic and individual freedoms, which all Texans cherish.”
A separate March survey found that 68 percent are opposed to the hemp ban proposed by Texas, while only 20 percent support it.
Bordas explained that while “these highly credible polls show clearly where voters are, some groups push false and misleading narratives for SB 3 in hopes more Texans might turn to drinking if hemp products were banned.” Every month, alcohol related crashes claim the lives of nearly 90 Texans, and over 1,000 a year. In the United States, alcohol is one of the most common preventable deaths. Hemp products are a popular alternative to alcohol that is already regulated by the federal and state levels.
Our industry supports additional safeguards as well, such as the prohibition of sales to people under 21, or the setting aside of schools. “Texans are entitled to legal choice, not policies based on fear that force them towards more harmful substances.”
This latest survey included interviews conducted with 800 Republican primary candidates from June 2 to 4, with an error margin of +/-4 points.
THBC also delivered over 100,000 petition signatures to Abbott last week, asking him to veto his measure.
There are three options available to the governor: sign or veto, or let this proposal take effect even without his signature. He has until June 22 to make a decision.
In the same vein, Abbott’s spokesperson declined to divulge his plan last month. He said that the Governor “will carefully review any legislation” sent to him.
Texas legislators approved the sale of hemp-based products in 2019. This was after the Farm Bill 2018 passed by the federal government, which had legalized this plant across the country. That’s led to an explosion of products—including edibles, drinks, vape products and cured flower—sold by an estimated 8,000 retailers.
Military veterans advocates, including Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars, have called on the governor to veto the hemp ban, saying it “would cause irreversible harm to communities across the state.”
Farmers have also said the prohibition would devastate a key sector of the state’s agriculture industry.
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Last month, meanwhile, the Texas House passed a pair of bills designed to ensure speedy access to psychedelic-assisted therapy in the event of FDA approval, but they did not clear the Senate by the end of the session.
Recent legislation passed by the lawmakers aims to greatly expand the program of medical marijuana in this state. The bill was sent to Governor.
Measure would allow patients with terminal illnesses to be treated using marijuana, including those suffering from chronic pain and traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Separately in Texas, a House committee approved a Senate-passed bill last month that would prohibit cities from putting any citizen initiative on local ballots that would decriminalize marijuana or other controlled substances—as several localities have already done despite lawsuits from the state attorney general.
Under the proposal, state law would be amended to say that local entities “may not place an item on a ballot, including a municipal charter or charter amendment, that would provide that the local entity will not fully enforce” state drug laws.
While several courts have previously upheld local cannabis decriminalization laws, an appellate court comprised of three conservative justices appointed by the governor has recently pushed back against two of those rulings, siding with the state in its legal challenge to the marijuana policy in Austin and San Marcos.
Despite the ongoing litigation and advancement of the House and Senate bills, Texas activists have their targets set on yet another city, Kyle, where they hope put an initiative before voters to enact local marijuana reform at the ballot this coming November.
A recent poll found that four in five Texas voters want to see marijuana legalized in some form, and most also want to see regulations around cannabis relaxed.
South Carolina GOP Governor Says There’s ‘Compelling’ Case For Medical Marijuana As House Leader Remains Skeptical
Kimzy Nanney is the photographer.
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