Original HA9N Article
03-06-2025
Stone Slade
Texas lawmakers are once again attempting to regulate cannabis by banning it. Senate Bill 3 (SB3), a proposal that would outlaw all THC products except for CBD and CBG, has sparked backlash from advocates, business owners, and everyday Texans who rely on these products for relief. Yesterday, a wave of activists descended upon the Texas Capitol—not with riots or chaos, but with facts, lived experiences, and a resounding demand for common sense. Meanwhile, Sen. Charles Perry, the bill's author, conveniently left before hearing the testimony of the Texans opposing his bill, proving once again that some lawmakers would rather legislate in an echo chamber than face the people their policies affect.
The Backlash Against SB3
SB3’s premise is simple: instead of dealing with the real issue—synthetic cannabinoids—lawmakers want to wipe out an entire industry that has been legally operating in Texas for years. Shaun Salvaje, a military veteran and former Department of Defense employee, pointed out one glaring flaw in this bill: “By only allowing CBD and CBG, you are effectively banning THCV,” he explained. “THCV actually counters the psychoactive effects of THC. So what SB3 does is ban the very molecule that could be your solution.” In other words, Texas is banning something that reduces THC’s effects. If that sounds backward, it’s because it is.
While proponents of the bill claim it’s about public health, the economic impact alone should be enough to make them think twice. Liz Grow, owner of Grow House Media, laid it out clearly: “If SB3 passes, my company could go under, along with countless others.” The Texas hemp industry has generated tax revenue, created jobs, and provided legal alternatives for consumers. But rather than regulating it properly, SB3 aims to dismantle it entirely.
The Inevitable Black Market Surge
The argument that this bill will somehow make Texans safer doesn’t hold up when you look at the facts. Austin Zamhariri, Executive Director of the Texas Cannabis Collective, broke it down: “If this bill were to go into effect, it would create the largest hemp-derived THC black market in the country—on top of the already existing, largest marijuana black market in the country.” This isn’t speculation; it’s historical precedent. Prohibition doesn’t eliminate demand—it simply pushes consumers toward unregulated markets. That means fewer safety checks, more questionable products, and less state oversight. If Texas lawmakers were serious about public health, they’d be looking at ways to regulate and ensure safe access, not pushing people into a market they can’t control.
The Real Issue: Synthetic Cannabinoids
Aaron Owens, owner of Tejas Tonic and Tejas Hemp, cut straight to the heart of the matter: “99% of the problems and concerns you have mentioned are a direct result of synthetic versions of THC.” But instead of addressing the actual problem, SB3 would take down the entire industry—good actors included. The responsible companies creating full-spectrum, non-synthetic, lab-tested products would be lumped in with the shady players making dangerous, unregulated synthetics. Texas lawmakers aren’t solving a problem; they’re creating a bigger one.
The Human Cost
The people testifying against SB3 weren’t just business owners—they were health professionals, veterans, and everyday Texans who depend on legal hemp products for relief. Haley Hunt, a nurse and owner of Haus of Jayne, described what she sees daily: “Every day I work with real Texans with real needs—mothers looking for low-dose THC options to ease anxiety, veterans with PTSD, seniors dealing with a dozen medications who just want a safer alternative.” These aren’t drug dealers; they’re people seeking better health and wellness solutions outside of Big Pharma. But if SB3 passes, those legal, tested products disappear—forcing consumers to either go without or turn to the black market.
What Texans Really Want
Colton Luther, a sixth-generation Texan from Hempstead, summed it up best: “Millions of Texans, including veterans, farmers, and senior citizens, have chosen legal, regulated hemp products over participation in the state’s medical program. Texans do not want to hand over private medical records, pay high prices, or navigate bureaucratic hurdles just to access a naturally occurring plant compound.” And that’s the reality. Texans don’t want prohibition. They want access. They want choice. And they want the government to stop interfering with an industry that has already proven its value.
The Bigger Picture
Texas lawmakers have a choice here: regulate responsibly or push people into the shadows. I stand behind a well-regulated hemp market just as much as I support a fully legalized, adult-use cannabis market. The focus should be on banning synthetic cannabinoids—the actual culprit behind public health concerns—not naturally occurring THC that people have been using safely for centuries. Instead, Texas lawmakers are throwing good actors under the bus, ignoring science, and pretending that prohibition will work this time. It won’t. It never has. And if SB3 passes, Texas won’t be safer—it’ll just be further behind. It won’t. It never has. And if SB3 passes, Texas won’t be safer—it’ll just be further behind.
The fight isn’t over yet, and if yesterday’s turnout at the Capitol was any indication, Texans aren’t backing down anytime soon.
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