As the Texas Legislature considers Senate Bill 5 to ban hemp-derived THC, the Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC) is urging lawmakers to reject the proposal.
Hemp THC gummies.
“As SB 5 heads to the Senate floor during the special session of the 89th Texas Legislature, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Senators Charles Perry and Roland Gutierrez are actively looking to gift-wrap the entire cannabis market to a few, select state-licensed marijuana companies, one of which already controls over 75% of the market”, said THBC in a press release. “Their claim that the restrictive Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) can replace hemp-derived cannabinoids is misleading and dangerous.”
The group continues by saying that “TCUP currently serves just over 100,000 patients and requires registration, physician prescriptions, higher prices and fewer options. While HB 46 was an attempt to improve the program, it does little to expand real access to a restrictive and expensive TCUP program that serves an entirely different purpose than hemp.”
Meanwhile, the group notes that hemp is legal and regulated under federal and state law and “serves millions of adult consumers and veterans who rely on affordable, accessible alternatives for wellness, pain relief and more.”
THBC says “SB 5 would destroy a $10 billion industry that supports over 53,000 jobs and eliminate economic opportunity for thousands of small business owners across the state. All being done under the false flag of “safety,” while the real goal is market control by a politically connected few. This isn’t about protecting public health, it’s about protecting a monopoly.”
Governor Abbott recently vetoed a similar proposal to Senate Bill 5, saying int he veto message that hemp should be regulated and not banned.
“Texans deserve choice, not coercion”, says THBC. “SB 5 is prohibition disguised as policy and lawmakers should reject it. Public opinion, economic data and common sense all point in the same direction: this is a manufactured crisis driven by special interests, not public demand. At a time when Texas faces real and pressing challenges like strengthening flood warning systems, redistricting and providing meaningful property tax relief, some Senate leaders are spending this special session pushing a hemp ban Texans clearly don’t want. It’s a clear example of misplaced priorities and misguided policies.”
The group concludes by saying “That’s why THBC and the vast majority of Texans strongly support a common-sense alternative that includes 21+ age limits, child-resistant packaging and setbacks from schools. It’s the right path forward for public safety, economic freedom and the future of hemp in Texas.”
The Texas Hemp Business Council is an industry organization dedicated to promoting the hemp-based cannabinoid industry in Texas, while advocating for consumer safety, education and stakeholder engagement. More information is available at http://www.texashempbusinesscouncil.com.
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