Texas Senate passed a bill on March 19, 2015, that would ban all hemp products with THC and other cannabinoids. The legislation will cripple an industry worth $8 billion in Texas employing over 50,000 employees.
Upper chamber lawmakers voted 24-7 to pass Senate Bill 3,, which Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, sponsors. Texas’ Lt. Governor. Dan Patrick prioritized the initiative and has been pushing for it since December.
S.B. S.B. This bill would repeal portions of House Bill 1325The Governor signed the 2019 Farm Bill to legalize hemp. Greg Abbott has signed a bill in 2019 authorizing the production of industrial hemp products and crops for commercial sale, as well as the manufacturing of them. This follows the legalization of hemp by the federal government in 2018 Farm Bill.
Perry, on the Senate Floor Wednesday morning, told his Senate colleagues that the 2019 Legislation was intended to provide support to farmers as well as promote an industrial hemp industry that would be designed to stimulate the production of fiber and other non-consumable goods.
However, since 1325 passed, many companies have started to openly exploit, violate the law. [and] Texas laws can be enforced by a product’s sale [that] Perry noted that THC levels were “far more than the THC restrictions imposed by hemp’s definition.” The market is flooded with illegal high-potency THC synthetic products. … Most of these products are created in a lab.”
Although the 2018 Farm Bill made hemp legal, defined by having no more that 0.3% delta-9THC in dry weight as determined in the fields, federal legislation did not regulate final goods such as edibles with delta-8THC, which have been exploding in the interstate market in the past few years.
Oft, delta-8 THC is created by a solvent-and acid-reaction process from non-intoxicating CBD. Delta-8 THC contains a double carbon bond in the eighth chain instead of the ninth chain found in delta-9.
Understanding Delta-8-THC : What is it?
S.B. License holders will be required to comply with S.B. It is not clear how to get there. The bill states that hemp products can be made with any other amount of cannabinoid than the non-intoxicating CBD, CBG or THC. The bill would ban products that contain delta-8 or Delta-9 THC from hemp.
The legislation requires that all CBD and CBG products be labeled properly with the certification that other cannabinoids present are less than 0.0001% by dry weight. Packaging would be child resistant.
There isn’t enough money to collect tax in order to address the issues of behavioral health and addictions we face today. [Health and Human Services Commission] budget—it would be in the billions. … The effect of what this drug is doing to the people that are involved in it, contrary to what you hear, it’s devastating lives.”
New criminal and administrative sanctions are also included in the bill, such as:
- It is a crime of the third degree to manufacture or distribute hemp products containing cannabinoids that are not CBD or CBG.
- A Possession of hemp products containing cannabinoids that are not CBD or CBG is a misdemeanor.
- A misdemeanor is to ship or send a hemp consumable product with any cannabinoid.
- A misdemeanor is to promote or sell hemp products for consumption to minors, or in close proximity to schools.
- Distributing or selling smokable plants like THCA flowers is a crime.
Patrick gave a Wednesday press conference surrounded by police officials, while standing behind the bill.
Patrick stated: “Let me be clear. We discuss many topics between the Senate and House. Sometimes you will have policy disagreements, which you must resolve.” “This bill is not among them. We need to pass this bill in order to shut down all these shops and ban THC. And, secondly, that includes THC that’s being sold in liquor stores—in drinks. It’s a fact. “This is a poison that is infecting the public and as legislators, we have a number one duty to ensure life and safety.”
Patrick’s Press Conference came one day following his visit to an Austin-based retailer of hemp products, where he asked the staff for their IDs and was informed that they did not sell non-compliant goods when he inquired whether gummies containing more than 50mg THC were available.
RELATED: Texas Lieutenant Governor ‘Carded’ at Compliant Austin-Based Hemp Retailer
The Texas Cannabis Policy Center, a cannabis reform advocate organization which supports “reasonable changes” in state laws related to access for youth and consumer safety has condemned the lieutenant-governor’s press conference. 3.
“The event, full of alarmist rhetoric and unfounded allegations, ignored real solution that could effectively regulate marijuana and ensure safety for consumers,” TCPC in a statement stated. Press release. It is Texas’s commitment to the prohibition of cannabinoids that created this market in the first instance. It is logical that if lawmakers want to protect consumers they should legalize botanical marijuana with naturally occurring THC and regulate it properly, instead of enacting bans.
TCPC said that state officials were using “death terms” and claiming hemp-derived products “killed” people. They did not provide “any proof to support” their statements.
Perry stated in his Senate floor address that 8,000 hemp retailers are targeting children of school age, even though Patrick had visited an Austin CBD hemp shop just the day prior. Perry said that hemp products sold by retailers in the state cause psychosis or paranoia. They also claim that high performers become unarticulate and nonverbal.
These people are evil. They’re evil. They are evil. Perry said about Texas’ hemp business, “It’s just all about bottom-line.” We do many things at this Legislature which have a positive impact on the lives of people. Rarely do we have the opportunity to literally save lives. This bill is about saving lives.