Texas Hemp Leaders Sue Over New Rules

0:00Texas hemp leaders just hit the state with a lawsuit to stop new rules that wipe out smokeable hemp products and jack up licensing fees big time. These groups, including the Texas hemp business council and some local dispensaries, file for a temporary block in Travis County Court on Tuesday. Against health agencies, they claim the state is rewriting laws from 2019 that define hemp as anything under 0.3% Delta 9 THC. Back in 2019, Texas legalized hemp while keeping marijuana illegal, but folks found a loophole with THCA that turns intoxicating wind. Smoked? Lawmakers tried banning those products last year over kid safety fears, but Governor Abbott vetoed it and told agencies to tighten rules instead. Kicking in March 31st, industry folks are fired up, saying the total THC testing bands popular flower and joints plus fees jumping from $258 to $10,000 for makers and 5,000 for retailers will shut businesses down.

1:02They back stuff like age 21 checks and kid-proof packaging, but not this overreach. Meanwhile, Poison Center calls for cannabis exposures shot up from 923 in 2019 to over 2,500 last year, mostly kids under 5. A prior Delta 8 bandfight heads to the Texas Supreme Court soon, which could sway this hemp showdown. That wraps Canada News today. Brought to you with AI.