The cultural and commercial growth of the cannabis plant in modern society has been an intriguing, and frustrating, process to witness. The hemp industry currently has an array of discussions regarding the 2018 Farm Bill and the specificities of how to handle cannabinoids. When the Farm Bill came into effect in 2018, it legalized industrial hemp that has a THC concentration of no more than 0.3%. Since then, numerous psychoactive cannabinoids have merged in the cannabis market including delta-8 and THCV.
A new proposed amendment to the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized essentially all products sourced from hemp including delta-9 THC, would now ban hemp-derived cannabinoids.
Republican Rep. Mary Miller’s proposed amendment establishes two distinct categories of legal hemp:
- “Hemp grown for cannabinoid extraction” — specifically, ““naturally, occurring, naturally derived and non-intoxicating cannabinoids,” and
- “Industrial hemp,” which covers material grown for non-cannabinoid-related purposes like fiber and food.
“This would not only impact potentially impairing products like delta-8 but would also extend to non-intoxicating CBD products with any quantifiable amount of THC,” stated Rob Pero, founder of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association.
As the amendment stands, this broad prohibition would effectively eliminate 90-95% of the hemp products market, including CBD.
The Texas State Committee on State Affairs is holding an interim hearing today, May 29th, to discuss the following charge: Banning Delta 8 and 9: Examine the sale of intoxicating hemp products in Texas. Make recommendations to further regulate the sale of these products, and suggest legislation to stop retailers who market these products to children.
Shayda Torabi, President of the Texas Hemp Coalition and cannabis entrepreneur, will be giving public testimony and her message is one I fully support – we need a unified approach, and regulation, not elimination.
We can achieve so much together, but we must approach this all respectfully and professionally.
In a world of Western medicine and large corporations, the natural benefits of the cannabis plant are often overlooked by those who govern the country. As someone whose mental and physical well-being has benefited greatly from both psychoactive and non-psychoactive cannabinoids, I advocate for others to have access to these strong healing properties.
If you want to contribute your voice to the Texas cannabis community, please contact your designated legislators via letter or phone call.
