The Governor signed both the Hemp Farming Act and a Limited Expansion of the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP).
Industrial Hemp Program (HB 1325) – The Governor signed this bill into statue on June 10th, 2019. The regulatory process will now begin. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will have 60 days to establish and send rules and regulations to the US government for approval. As stated by a TDA representative during the Senate hearing, it is expected that cultivation licenses will be granted by the end of 2019 and crops can be planted in early 2020. (HB 1325 Overview)
Limited Expansion of TCUP (HB 3703) – While HB 3703 is a very limited expansion, it will allow Texans with seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, terminal cancer, incurable neurodegenerative disease, autism, ALS, and spasticity to qualify for the Texas Compassionate Use Program. The Governor signed this bill into statue on June 10th, 2019 and these changes will go into effect immediately. (HB 3703 Overview)
To read more on how the 60 plus bills fared, check out our blog.
How did your legislator vote? Review their 86th Legislature Voting Record.
With medical cannabis available to only a select few — and a patchwork of policies being implemented at the local level — it’s important to understand Texas’s current policies and how we can improve them. To this end, we are working with our coalition partners to promote our second annual Texas Marijuana Policy Conference from August 30th to September 1st in Austin, TX. Register now for early bird pricing and share the event with your friends and colleagues who are interested in this exciting movement! Rates go up on August 1st.
The three-day conference will offer presentations from policy and industry leaders to help attendees better understand and navigate the new legal climate. It will also be focused on opportunities and our path forward to ensure more meaningful policy changes when the legislature meets again in 2021. In addition to policy and advocacy discussions surrounding decriminalization, medical cannabis, and hemp, we’ll feature a track of cannabis business sessions geared toward entrepreneurs, market watchdogs, and investors. They are currently accepting speaker recommendations.
With your tax-deductible sponsorship, you’ll help us empower Texans with the tools they need to engage in their communities and with the legislature. If you are interested in sponsoring this important educational and networking event, please reach out to ExecutiveDirector@InformedTexas.org.