The Texas House public health committee held a public hearing Wednesday on a bill that would ban all hemp products – doubling down on their disregard for Texans and Gov. Greg Abbott. Senate Bill 5 would criminalize the manufacturing, possession, sale, and use of these hemp products.
The hemp industry is a nearly $8 billion industry, employing nearly 60,000 Texans alone. A ban on hemp would be a slap in the face to farmers, freedom, and the will of Texas voters.
“The Texas House of Representatives must reject House Bill 5 and instead pursue the path of commonsense regulation that Gov. Abbott and Texas farmers and business leaders have outlined – a path that protects children while preserving nearly 60,000 Texas jobs and revenue of a nearly $8 billion agricultural commodity,” said Hemp Industry & Farmers of America Executive Director Brian Swensen. “Placing more red tape on lawfully operating Texas businesses and limiting farmers’ ability to grow federally compliant crops goes against everything the state of Texas stands for. If the Legislature has any respect for their constituents, they will listen to the Governor and the nearly 80% of Texas voters in favor of consumable hemp-derived products.”
Read more about what they are saying:
KCNE, HB-5 proposed bill sparks hours-long discussion at the Texas State Capitol
“If HB-5 passes, our customers who are upstanding citizens and responsible consumers will be criminals overnight,” Earlybird CBD co-founder Mark Huling said. “My customer will likely go back to the bar, liquor store, or resort to buying from unregulated out-of-state websites. That means less safety, no age-checks, and no Texas oversight.”
“Hulings added that his company, Earlybird CBD, has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales tax revenue and has created dozens of jobs since 2020. He noted that if the bill is passed, there will be significant economic implications across Texas.”
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“Hemp-derived consumables are not poison,” Texas VFW member Mitch Fuller said. “The poisons are these: it’s an empty bottle of alcohol and a pill bottle. They’ve done a number on us in the veteran community, and this is a choice that many veterans use as their choice of opioids and anti-depressants.”
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Harvey Kronberg’s Quorum Report, GOP polling shows that after clash over THC Abbott saw higher approval ratings while they went down for Patrick
“Polling conducted by pollsters who have worked for President Trump showed Abbott saw a 5-point bump in approval while Patrick’s ratings dropped among voters who lean heavily Republican.”
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“The polling, reviewed by Quorum Report this week, shows Abbott saw his overall approval jump by 4 points immediately after his veto of Senate Bill 3 from the regular session.”
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“In polling conducted in May by Fabrizo Lee and Associates, Abbott was at 46 percent, approve, 48 percent disapprove.”
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“After that, in a poll conducted by McLaughling & Associates in July after the veto that Patrick blasted, Gov. Abbott’s approval was at 50 percent with disapproval sitting at 48.”
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Texas Tribune, Texas Senate committee doubles down on THC ban, saying state and local governments don’t have the resources for regulations
“Ramona Harding, a Navy veteran, told lawmakers about how she was raped while in the service, leading to her drug and alcohol addiction. After her two brothers died from alcohol poisoning, her family and medical professionals recommended she move to hemp, and she says it’s the only thing keeping her alive.”
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“Farmers, lawyers, retailers, parents, real estate agents, and others testified before lawmakers, taking exception to how they have been described by Perry and others. They said a ban restricts the freedoms of Texans and goes against the spirit of the state.”
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“We followed every rule, food grade standards, lab testing, licensing and more, and now we are being accused of targeting children, working with cartels, and being terrorists,” said John Elmore, a hemp farmer in Texas. “As a Texan, I never expected this level of misdirection from people we were supposed to trust.”
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ETSN, Texas Voters Rally For Legal Hemp Products Despite Austin’s Pushback
“If you’ve been wondering where Texans stand on hemp-derived products, the latest numbers might surprise you — and they’re not what some lawmakers in Austin want to hear.”
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“And here’s the kicker: support has grown nearly 10% since Governor Greg Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3 earlier this year, a measure that would have banned certain hemp-derived products. The numbers suggest that efforts to outlaw these items aren’t lining up with what the public wants.”
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“This isn’t a red-or-blue issue. The poll shows 75% of Republicans, 81% of Democrats, and 82% of Independents are on board. Even among traditionally conservative groups, support stays strong.”
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About Hemp Industry & Farmers of America (HIFA): HIFA is a nonpartisan coalition of hemp industry advocates representing the interests of all sectors – from farmers, veterans, and manufacturers to retail stores.
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