Texas Hemp Retailers Bracing for Potential Ban on THC Products
As the Texas Legislature inches closer to passing a bill that would ban the sale, possession, and manufacture of hemp products containing THC, the state’s hemp industry is on high alert. Thousands of hemp stores across Texas are at risk of being forced to shut down, threatening tens of thousands of jobs and a multibillion-dollar industry.
The proposed ban would outlaw any consumable product containing THC, even in trace amounts, and would impose criminal penalties of up to a year in jail for possession and up to 10 years for manufacturing or selling banned products. Retailers like Eddie Velez, owner of Oak Cliff Cultivators in Dallas, are warning of devastating business losses if the bill becomes law.
“We’ve been in the industry trying to do everything right,” Velez said. “We followed the rules, maintained our permits, and yet we are having the rug pulled out from under our feet.”
The bill’s supporters argue that the hemp industry has failed to adequately regulate THC content and prevent access by minors. “We are not banning hemp – we are banning high,” said Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, who authored the amendment that restored the bill to a full ban. “If it gets you high, it is not legal anymore.”
However, retailers like Velez argue that the total prohibition goes too far and that they were willing to work with lawmakers on reasonable regulations. “We were willing to work with lawmakers on age restrictions and bans on synthetic cannabinoids, but this is a death sentence for our business,” Velez said.
The bill’s passage would mark a dramatic reversal for Texas, which only legalized hemp six years ago to support agriculture. The state’s hemp industry has flourished since then, but now faces an uncertain future.
