The Texas House of Representatives is set to ban hemp-derived products that can make a consumer feel high, closing a loophole on unregulated intoxicants but also creating concerns it will negatively impact Texans who rely on the products to treat their chronic pain.
After hours of debate on the House floor Wednesday night, a bill to ban all consumable hemp products containing THC passed a key vote. Both sides of the aisle agreed the current state of unregulated THC products, the intoxicating compound in marijuana, needed to be fixed to protect children and users.
However, both sides seemed to differ on how to do that. A majority of Democrats supported regulation while a majority of Republicans supported prohibition. A lot of the debate centered around the state's medical marijuana program, called the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP).
State Rep. Penny Morales Shaw, a Democrat from Houston, raised concerns for the veteran community. "You're taking away potentially their freedom to choose this product that in their own words saved their lives," Morales Shaw said from the back microphone.
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