New state rules that eliminate natural smokable hemp products and increase licensing fees will go into effect at the end of the month. Hemp industry leaders say these new regulations will eliminate a majority of their inventory and force those who don't have extra income to meet these new fees to close stores.
Earlier this month, the Texas Department of State Health Services released regulations on consumable hemp-derived THC products that will go into effect on March 31. These new regulations include child-resistant packaging, a significant increase in licensing fees and new labeling, testing and bookkeeping requirements. The rules also codify the legal purchasing age to 21, which went into effect last year as an emergency directive.
However, hemp retailers say the regulation that decreases the amount of total THC in products they sell to 0.3 percent will eliminate popular smokable hemp products, such as rolled joints and smokable flower buds, which make up more than 50 percent of some stores' inventories.
The Texas Legislature voted to ban the products out of fear that these intoxicating products were consistently getting into the hands of children. But, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) vetoed the decision last summer, before asking the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and DSHS to increase regulations on the industry instead.
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