Hemp Farming Act Unanimously Passed the Texas House
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]exas lawmakers passed House Bill 1325 on April 24—a bill that would permit cultivators to grow hemp legally as an industrial crop in the state.
Most cannabis products are still prohibited in Texas. THC-free hemp products such as fresh seeds or fiber that have been derived from hemp plants not grown in Texas are legal, as well as CBD oil for intractable epilepsy. However, if it contains even an iota of THC, it is deemed illegal under the current Texas law.
If this new bill becomes law, it would legalize several hemp products. The bill passed by a vote of 144-0 and now heads to the Senate for additional consideration. “I’m optimistic,” said Tracy King, one of the authors of the bill. “I’m excited about it.”
Even if this bill is passed in the Senate, cannabis would still remain illegal in Texas. But it sure will be a step forward for cannabis enthusiasts.
A different legislation that would decriminalize the possession of an ounce or less of cannabis was also up for discussion in the Texas House of Representatives on April 25. If the proposed bill is approved by the Texan lawmakers, possession of the permitted amount of cannabis would no longer be considered a criminal offense, a $250 fine would be imposed instead.
Texas is also considering expanding its medical cannabis program and a legislation to do so has already been drafted by lawmakers. At present, only patients with epilepsy can legally acquire medical cannabis under the Texas Compassionate Use Act. If the bill passes the Senate, it would accommodate patients with other debilitating medical conditions as well, which includes but is not limited to diseases such as cancer, autism, Crohn’s disease, HIV, PTSD, glaucoma, sickle cell anemia etc. The bill would also increase the range and variety of medical cannabis available for patients to treat their specific ailments and overall make the program more inclusive.
