Texas Hemp Business Council Tells Texas Lawmakers ‘Don’t Mess With Hemp’

Editor's update, 11:14 p.m. May 30: The Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs's public hearing was held May 29, to: "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," as stated on the public hearing notice. Lukas Gilkey, one of the Texas Hemp Business Council’s founding members, testified at the public hearing. According to CBS Austin, "The hearing to gather public input is just the first step in a long legislative process, where the Senate wouldn't be able to take any action regarding these hemp-derived products until the next legislative session in 2025." 

AUSTIN, May 28, 2024 – PRESS RELEASE – The Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC), a nonprofit trade association focused on advancing and protecting hemp-derived products in the Lonestar State, announced that its members will be among those present at the Texas Capitol on May 29 to present the case for keeping delta-8 and delta-9 THC products legal in Texas.

“Any bans or excessive legislation of hemp-derived cannabinoids as suggested by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and others will negatively impact an industry that has an $8 billion economic impact, pays $1.6 billion in annual wages, and supports more than 50,000 workers,” said Lukas Gilkey, CEO and co-founder of Hometown Hero, THBC’s founding member, who will be among those delivering testimony in front of the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs. “Millions of Americans, including an ever-growing number of veterans, many whom live here in our home state, choose these products as part of their daily lifestyles, while others may rely on them as alternatives to marijuana, opioids, and other pharmaceuticals.”

Current law already regulates hemp products in Texas, which includes full panel testing for all consumable cannabinoids as well as licensing and labeling requirements. Certificates of analysis are also required to be available to every consumer.

As part of its “Don’t Mess with Hemp” campaign, the THBC has outlined the following 10 reasons that convey the positive economic and social impact of hemp-derived cannabinoids in Texas:

1. Sales of hemp-derived cannabinoids in Texas generate more than $8 billion annually.
2. Between $19.1 billion and $22.4 billion in economic activity is generated by the local hemp-derived cannabinoid retail, manufacturing and wholesale sectors.
3. The hemp industry pays upwards of $1.6 billion in annual worker wages.
4. The hemp sector has created or expanded more than 5,000 businesses in the state.
5. More than 750 licensed Texan farmers cultivate up to 3,300 acres of hemp for the state and throughout the U.S.
6. Hemp is legal on a federal level and in many states, including Texas, according to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka Farm Bill).
7. Consumable hemp products have been successfully regulated in the state since 2019, when House Bill 1325 was passed into law.
8. An increasing number of veterans use hemp products daily as alternatives to opioids to treat issues such as chronic pain, traumatic brain injuries and PTSD.
9. Hemp-derived delta-8 cannabinoids have been in the marketplace for many years without incident and do not present public health and safety risks like those from alcohol and tobacco.
10. Millions of adults have used CBD and hemp-derived cannabinoids for various purposes, including enhancing wellness, improving lifestyle, and alleviating pain, stress and anxiety.

“Our message to lawmakers is simple: Please don’t mess with hemp,” Gilkey said. “Prohibition will only put consumers at risk due to an illicit market, and the economic damage in terms of business failures, job losses and adjacent economic activity to Texas would be too great. We are fully committed to continuing the fight here in Texas to ensure the future success of the hemp industry.”

The public hearing by the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs to examine the sale of hemp products in Texas, among other topics such as maintaining election security and protecting land and assets, will start at 9 a.m. May 29 at the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012.

References:

“Hemp Derived Cannabinoids in the Lone Star State: An Economic Impact Analysis of Cannabinoid Retail in Texas,” Whitney Economics. ^1,2,3,4,5,9
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 ⁶
Texas House Bill 1325 ⁷
Texas Tribune, February 6, 2023, “Texas veterans vow to protect the state’s hemp market” ⁸
Forbes, April 29, 2024, “CBD Statistics, Data and Use” ¹⁰