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Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Texans Deserve Choice, Not a Monopoly: Texas Hemp Business Council Urges Lawmakers to Defeat SB 5
AUSTIN, Texas, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC) today issued the following statement: 'As SB 5 heads to the Senate floor during the special session of the 89th Texas Legislature, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Senators Charles Perry and Roland Gutierrez are actively looking to gift-wrap the entire cannabis market to a few, select state-licensed marijuana companies, one of which already controls over 75% of the market. 'Their claim that the restrictive Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) can replace hemp-derived cannabinoids is misleading and dangerous. 'TCUP currently serves just over 100,000 patients and requires registration, physician prescriptions, higher prices and fewer options. While HB 46 was an attempt to improve the program, it does little to expand real access to a restrictive and expensive TCUP program that serves an entirely different purpose than hemp. 'Meanwhile, hemp is legal and regulated under federal and state law and serves millions of adult consumers and veterans who rely on affordable, accessible alternatives for wellness, pain relief and more. 'SB 5 would destroy a $10 billion industry that supports over 53,000 jobs and eliminate economic opportunity for thousands of small business owners across the state. All being done under the false flag of 'safety,' while the real goal is market control by a politically connected few. This isn't about protecting public health, it's about protecting a monopoly. 'Governor Abbott's veto message was clear: regulate hemp responsibly, don't ban it. Texans deserve choice, not coercion. SB 5 is prohibition disguised as policy and lawmakers should reject it. Public opinion, economic data and common sense all point in the same direction: this is a manufactured crisis driven by special interests, not public demand. 'At a time when Texas faces real and pressing challenges like strengthening flood warning systems, redistricting and providing meaningful property tax relief, some Senate leaders are spending this special session pushing a hemp ban Texans clearly don't want. It's a clear example of misplaced priorities and misguided policies. 'That's why THBC and the vast majority of Texans strongly support a common-sense alternative that includes 21+ age limits, child-resistant packaging and setbacks from schools. It's the right path forward for public safety, economic freedom and the future of hemp in Texas.' About the Texas Hemp Business Council The Texas Hemp Business Council is an industry organization dedicated to promoting the hemp-based cannabinoid industry in Texas, while advocating for consumer safety, education and stakeholder engagement. More information is available at Media Contacts: Natalie Mu/George Medici PondelWilkinson 310.279.5980 [email protected] [email protected]
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Texans Deserve Choice, Not a Monopoly: Texas Hemp Business Council Urges Lawmakers to Defeat SB 5
AUSTIN, Texas, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC) today issued the following statement: "As SB 5 heads to the Senate floor during the special session of the 89th Texas Legislature, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Senators Charles Perry and Roland Gutierrez are actively looking to gift-wrap the entire cannabis market to a few, select state-licensed marijuana companies, one of which already controls over 75% of the market. "Their claim that the restrictive Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) can replace hemp-derived cannabinoids is misleading and dangerous. "TCUP currently serves just over 100,000 patients and requires registration, physician prescriptions, higher prices and fewer options. While HB 46 was an attempt to improve the program, it does little to expand real access to a restrictive and expensive TCUP program that serves an entirely different purpose than hemp. "Meanwhile, hemp is legal and regulated under federal and state law and serves millions of adult consumers and veterans who rely on affordable, accessible alternatives for wellness, pain relief and more. "SB 5 would destroy a $10 billion industry that supports over 53,000 jobs and eliminate economic opportunity for thousands of small business owners across the state. All being done under the false flag of 'safety,' while the real goal is market control by a politically connected few. This isn't about protecting public health, it's about protecting a monopoly. 'Governor Abbott's veto message was clear: regulate hemp responsibly, don't ban it. Texans deserve choice, not coercion. SB 5 is prohibition disguised as policy and lawmakers should reject it. Public opinion, economic data and common sense all point in the same direction: this is a manufactured crisis driven by special interests, not public demand. "At a time when Texas faces real and pressing challenges like strengthening flood warning systems, redistricting and providing meaningful property tax relief, some Senate leaders are spending this special session pushing a hemp ban Texans clearly don't want. It's a clear example of misplaced priorities and misguided policies. 'That's why THBC and the vast majority of Texans strongly support a common-sense alternative that includes 21+ age limits, child-resistant packaging and setbacks from schools. It's the right path forward for public safety, economic freedom and the future of hemp in Texas.' About the Texas Hemp Business Council The Texas Hemp Business Council is an industry organization dedicated to promoting the hemp-based cannabinoid industry in Texas, while advocating for consumer safety, education and stakeholder engagement. More information is available at Media Contacts: Natalie Mu/George MediciPondelWilkinson310.279.5980nmu@ in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Texans Deserve Choice, Not a Monopoly: Texas Hemp Business Council Urges Lawmakers to Defeat SB 5
AUSTIN, Texas, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC) today issued the following statement: "As SB 5 heads to the Senate floor during the special session of the 89th Texas Legislature, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Senators Charles Perry and Roland Gutierrez are actively looking to gift-wrap the entire cannabis market to a few, select state-licensed marijuana companies, one of which already controls over 75% of the market. "Their claim that the restrictive Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) can replace hemp-derived cannabinoids is misleading and dangerous. "TCUP currently serves just over 100,000 patients and requires registration, physician prescriptions, higher prices and fewer options. While HB 46 was an attempt to improve the program, it does little to expand real access to a restrictive and expensive TCUP program that serves an entirely different purpose than hemp. "Meanwhile, hemp is legal and regulated under federal and state law and serves millions of adult consumers and veterans who rely on affordable, accessible alternatives for wellness, pain relief and more. "SB 5 would destroy a $10 billion industry that supports over 53,000 jobs and eliminate economic opportunity for thousands of small business owners across the state. All being done under the false flag of 'safety,' while the real goal is market control by a politically connected few. This isn't about protecting public health, it's about protecting a monopoly. 'Governor Abbott's veto message was clear: regulate hemp responsibly, don't ban it. Texans deserve choice, not coercion. SB 5 is prohibition disguised as policy and lawmakers should reject it. Public opinion, economic data and common sense all point in the same direction: this is a manufactured crisis driven by special interests, not public demand. "At a time when Texas faces real and pressing challenges like strengthening flood warning systems, redistricting and providing meaningful property tax relief, some Senate leaders are spending this special session pushing a hemp ban Texans clearly don't want. It's a clear example of misplaced priorities and misguided policies. 'That's why THBC and the vast majority of Texans strongly support a common-sense alternative that includes 21+ age limits, child-resistant packaging and setbacks from schools. It's the right path forward for public safety, economic freedom and the future of hemp in Texas.' About the Texas Hemp Business Council The Texas Hemp Business Council is an industry organization dedicated to promoting the hemp-based cannabinoid industry in Texas, while advocating for consumer safety, education and stakeholder engagement. More information is available at Media Contacts: Natalie Mu/George MediciPondelWilkinson310.279.5980nmu@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Texas special session week 1: THC, redistricting, flood response
The first week of the Texas Legislature's special session is in the books. Lawmakers held hearings in Austin on some of the highest-profile items on the agenda, including flood response, redistricting and regulating THC. On Wednesday, select committees of the House and Senate assigned to scrutinized the state's emergency response convened for the first time in a joint hearing. Republican Sen. Charles perry, the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding, said they do not seek to assign blame for more than 100 deaths that occurred over the July 4th weekend in Hill Country. "Our select committee will not armchair quarterback," Perry said, adding it sought to draw lessons on flood prevention and preparedness. Nim Kidd, the head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, testified at the hearing, offering lawmakers suggestions to mitigate a similar catastrophe, including ways to strengthen emergency communications. But some Democrats cast doubt on the agency's response and whether it was doing enough to boost flood infrastructure in rural towns. "We can mitigate or eliminate the possibility this could happen in the future," Democratic state Rep. Joe Moody said. "And that's not a blame game, that's accountability." Local officials have faced scrutiny over why more warnings weren't sent to residents in harm's way along the hard-hit Guadalupe River. Gov. Greg Abbott has said assigning blame for the disaster is "the word choice of losers." Lawmakers have filed bills to improve early warning systems and emergency communications and to provide relief funding. Legislators are scheduled to visit Kerrville on July 31 to hear from residents. Texas Democrats on Thursday laid into Republicans for racing to create more winnable U.S. House seats before the 2026 elections in the first public hearing by lawmakers as they undertake a rare summer redrawing of the congressional maps at the urging of President Donald Trump. No proposals of what Texas' new congressional districts might look like were unveiled at the state Capitol, where three Democratic members of Congress joined more than 100 members of the public in rallying outside the building before waiting hours to testify before a special legislative committee. "You all are being used," Democratic U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro told the panel, saying it would confuse voters and motivate other states to rush to redraw their own maps. He and other Democrats blasted the justification for the unusually timed redrawing, which typically happens only once every 10 years to coincide with demographic shifts from the U.S. census. No Republicans on the 21-member panel made remarks before testimony began other than the committee chairman, Rep. Cody Vasut, who said he had not been in talks with the White House about the redrawing. "Whether or not I think there needs to be mid-cycle redistricting is a matter of opinion," said Vasut, when asked whether he believed it was appropriate to redraw maps in the middle of the decade. Other public hearings are planned around Texas in the coming days as the GOP has only a few weeks to vote through new maps in the 30-day special legislative session. Just weeks after Gov. Abbott vetoed a bill banning products containing THC, state senators revived it in the special session, filing nearly identical legislation and passing it unanimously out of committee with a 10-0 vote on Tuesday. Abbott explicitly asked lawmakers to regulate, not ban, hemp products. Senators argued on Tuesday that it's not going to work. "We'll regulate it," said Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood. "We'll regulate it by banning it. Because we already tried regulating it." Allen police chief Steve Dye, who has led raids of hemp stores and warehouses, testified at the hearing and argued regulation would be too difficult and costly to be effective. "Regulation would likely be seen by the industry as carte blanche legalization," Dye said. Advocates argue a ban would close hundreds of businesses, costing Texans tens of thousands of jobs. They also argue it hurt Texans who use the products, like veterans who use them as alternative to alcohol and opioids. Abbott was quoted by Impact News on Tuesday, saying he does want to ban intoxicating consumable THC products, which he views as those with more than 3 milligrams of THC. That's still more than what the Senate seems to want to allow, but it may be a sign he's willing to compromise. Senate Bill 5 now heads to the full Senate.
Free Malaysia Today
23-07-2025
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Texas lawmakers investigate flash floods as death toll hits 137
Many have expressed concern about vacancies at National Weather Service offices due to staffing cuts under President Donald Trump. (AP pic) AUSTIN : Texas state lawmakers met during a special session on Wednesday, to address for the first time the deadly flash floods that hit the Texas Hill Country this month, killing at least 137 people. Senator Charles Perry, chairperson for the joint senate-house committee investigating the preparation for and response to the flooding, said the committee did not want to assign blame, but sought 'constructive policy solutions which will remit future loss of life.' Texas governor Greg Abbott included the investigation on the agenda of a special legislative session that opened on Monday. Abbott said on social media that the death toll from the July 4 flash flooding ticked up to 137, and a man and a girl remained missing. Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas dvision of emergency management, was the first person lawmakers called to testify. He described the vast state's emergency response system as fragmented. Under the system, each of 254 counties maintains control over ordering evacuations. Such an order was not given in the hardest hit areas earlier this month. Kidd told lawmakers that to improve preparation for natural disasters, he needed better in-house radar systems, better communications systems to warn local leaders and residents, and more resources for evacuations or to assist residents who shelter in place. The high casualty toll ranked as one of the deadliest US flood events in decades, raising questions about the lack of flash-flood warning sirens in hardest hit Kerr County. Many have expressed concern about vacancies at National Weather Service offices due to staffing cuts under President Donald Trump. The legislative committee investigating the floods will next meet on July 31 in Kerr County. The committee will write a report to be forwarded to the full Texas Senate and House to inform possible legislation during the month-long special session.
