Texas hemp industry uncertain amid regulatory debates

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Senate Bill 5 would eliminate the majority of hemp products. CBD and CBG products would still be available for consumption.

A shop owner continues to push for regulations on alcohol and tobacco, saying they’re already regulating themselves.

“We’re just going back and forth on, on the same issue that the governor already said he wanted regulation,” Texas Cannabis Co.’s David Sanchez said.

Sanchez is frustrated once again with lawmakers’ debate on hemp products.

“We’re just hoping that they can get it together so they can see what Texans actually want,” Sanchez said.

Lawmakers are seeking to ban solely products with THC, the compound that gets you high.

“They’re illegal and they’re harmful,” Texas Senator Charles Perry, who authored the legislation, said. “DEA, Drug Enforcement Administration, federal level synthetic cannabinoids are not hemp as of August 21st, 2020, rules and are deemed controlled substances.”

Perry is not backing down from an all-out ban.

“It is not a regulatable situation,” Perry said.

A spokesperson with Governor Abbott’s office stated:

“Adults should be able to access heavily regulated, nonintoxicating levels of hemp, and there should be strict legal enforcement of hemp that exceeds 3.0 Milligrams total THC per serving.”

But can that still be marketable? According to Sanchez, it still is.

“Many of our products are going to fall under that. With the commonsense regulation that they were talking about, because most of the products or all the products in here already are under .3 Delta-9, because that’s the federal law,” Sanchez said.

The day after Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3, which banned all consumable products, one person told us how he uses it to ease sciatic nerve and back problems.

Even without THC, Sanchez said other products could aid his customers.

“They can enjoy all the other benefits. Right now, most of our products in here have that already in place,”

Now, Sanchez and other shops wait once again on the fate of the hemp industry.

The Senate Committee on Public Affairs also argued for funding to monitor regulation.

Sanchez said any type of tax is welcome to help cover the costs.