Hundreds of supporters of the Texas hemp industry crowded the State Capitol Building on Monday to denounce efforts in the Legislature to heavily restrict — or even ban — hemp-derived THC products, KVUE reports.
Hemp products containing 0.3% THC or less have been legal in Texas since 2019, and in that time, the industry has bloomed into a multi-billion-dollar industry supporting tens of thousands of jobs in the state.
The majority of Monday’s testimony was opposing the restrictions, the report said.
The bills specifically target THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis:
- Senate Bill 3, which was passed by the Senate last month, seeks to ban any and all forms of THC, and
- House Bill 28 would allow for low-potency products but implement serving size restrictions.
Neither of the proposals would directly impact the state’s medical cannabis industry, and they would both tighten advertising restrictions and implement stricter testing requirements. Additionally, the bills would both allow for the sale of other hemp-derived cannabinoids, including CBD and CBG products, the report said.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) last year said that banning hemp-derived THC in the state would be one of his top legislative priorities for the current session. Meanwhile, a poll earlier this year found that 62% of Texas residents support legalizing adult-use cannabis in the state.
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