HB-5, the proposed hemp ban bill, brought both sides of the argument to the table to discuss a potential pass or veto.
AUSTIN, Texas — House Bill 5 was the hours-long topic of discussion at the Texas state capitol Wednesday as Texans voiced their opinions on the proposed hemp ban legislation.
HB-5 aims to ban the manufacturing, sale, possession and use of consumable hemp products containing any detectable amount of any cannabinoid other than cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG).
Both advocates and opponents of the bill took the opportunity to speak about their stance on the proposed legislation.
“Make no mistake, the recreational marijuana market, the market that some members and state leaders aspire to regulate, is infiltrated by organized crime,” Texas Sheriffs’ Association President Brian Hawthorne said. “That is why we believe T-H-C regulation will fail. Regulation is recreation. Do not turn Texas green, and that is your sheriff asking you that.”
“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.
There were also other arguments from community members who spoke about the long-term effects hemp has had on their lives, both good and bad, but one veteran argued that if the bill is passed, it would be detrimental to those who have served and suffer from PTSD.
“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.”
But one Texas police chief testified his officers confiscated products containing as much as 77% THC in a recent raid, which is far above the legal limit of 0.3%. He claims that no amount of regulation would solve the issue.
Today’s discussion was just a hearing, and no vote was taken to pass or veto the bill. We will continue to keep you updated on the topic as the situation continues to unfold. If you would like to view today’s discussion, click here.