Hemp has been a staple of human use since antiquity. Rope is made from fibers of Cannabis sativa, while the leaves and shoots are also used often. However, in Texas, the USA, the absence of stringent regulatory laws in the industry have been noted.
Food, drinks, and cosmetic goods all come from hemp-based cannabinoids like CBD (cannabidiol). For this reason, the Texas Department of State Health has issued a new set of laws and a deadline to conform.
The set of laws include new mandatory licenses and quality inspections
The government had intended to straighten up the hemp industry with two key laws. Both of these laws were put into effect as of August 2, 2020. Firstly, all hemp manufacturers, processors, and distributors must obtain a compulsory license. This license is available for $258 per hemp facility, and it is now illegal to operate without it.
Furthermore, hemp businesses must register the stores where their products are sold by October 2, 2020. This will cost an additional $155 per outlet. Each of these licenses is valid for one year, and they must be renewed upon expiration at the Texas Department of State Health Services website.
Secondly, hemp products are now subject to random inspections. To ensure safety and quality standards, state health officials will carry out tests for safety and quality standards. They will also inspect the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive agent in giving users their ‘high’).
This is because the federal legal limit of THC is 0.3%. Aside from this, the state health officials will also look for harmful germs, heavy metals, and chemicals.
Texas still has a ban on the smoking of hemp
Despite the recent laws, it should be noted that Texas’ stance on smoking cannabis is still conservative. Even the consumption of cannabis in food, for the purpose of getting high, is still illegal. The possession of any cannabis product with over 0.3% of THC is still a misdemeanor. The only acceptable use of THC products is as an additive, and these new regulations reflect that.
Despite the legality of hemp, Texas is still a state that only recently allowed this. Hemp was only legalized for industrial use in 2019. This was by the passing of House Bill 1325 last June. Republican State Sen. Charles Perry backed that law.
The law was a major shift from previous conservative stances in the state. This bill legalized hemp distribution, production, and usage for the first time in the entire state’s history.
Increased imports of THC products led to these new regulations
The move to introduce these two new laws was somewhat surprising to most. With respect to hemp, Texas has long been considered among the most conservative states in the country. Hence, it’s only understandable that it would keep the substance banned even as others have legalized it. However, Perry has since gone on to mention why the sudden regulation was implemented.
Speaking in a press release, he stated that the move was made because of increased imports of related goods. Such goods came from countries and states that he believed to have subpar quality assurance. Therefore, the hemp was made safer and more reliable by putting the focus on regulating local producers.
After all, the quality of imports cannot be improved directly. Perry went on to praise the efficacy of his bill. He claimed the new regulations would significantly improve the hemp commercially available.