On Wednesday, April 24, 2019, House Bill 1325 was approved, the first step in allowing Texas farmers to grow hemp as an industrial crop. It also paves the way for cannabidiol (CBD) products with low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The bill passed with a 144-0 vote and will move on toward the Texas Senate for deliberation.
Hemp and marijuana are derived from the cannabis plant family. But, as noted above, the former contains only low THC levels (THC is the compound which makes users of marijuana high). The passing of HB 1325 is seen as a win for the agricultural industry in the Lone Star State. Products which are hemp-based and do not contain THC are legal in Texas. Items such as clothing, topical products, and even twine incorporating this plant species can be sold in this state. However, the plant itself, from which these products are derived, can’t be legally grown in Texas. Subsequently, the agriculture industry suffers as a result of outsourcing by Texas businesses for their key ingredient. Recently, it was removed from the list of controlled substances by the federal government, and Texas is looking to follow suit. This latest move is seen as a continuance of that process, allowing for industrial hemp production within our own state borders. At present, hemp-based products with even the smallest amounts of THC remain illegal in Texas. This bill seeks to legalize those that fall under a percentage point of 0.3 for THC presence.