TEMPLE, Texas — It's a high interest topic in the State of Texas -- the hemp industry. Current law allows the sale of products with less than 0.3 percent THC by weight.
The industry has been booming the last several years, becoming a billion dollar industry, including with products like Delta-8 and Delta-9. Now, lawmakers are at odds over its future and what it has become.
At a Senate committee hearing at the end of May, senators invited witnesses like state troopers and doctors, as well as members of the public, to discuss the idea of banning hemp products, regulating the industry more, research of hemp and the impact that the industry, as well as marketing, has had on kids.
It was the topic for several hours and had Central Texas couple Kristi and Griffin McGaughey on the edge of their seat.
"It's a very historic moment for us right now being right here on the split of if we'll continue with hemp or not," said Kristi McGaughey. "For us personally, it's difficult to watch because of how much we love the hemp plant and how much we've seen it affect our customers, our friends, our family, our employees, literally just so many people around us."
The McGaugheys own Redbird Hemp Dispensary in Temple. They said business has been busy, and if something were to happen to the hemp industry, 90-95 percent of their product could disappear.
"I'm just more so genuinely concerned about other people," Kristi McGaughey added. "Where are they going to go? Because we've learned with prohibition before, it doesn't work. People will still do what they want to do. We're humans. We all want what we want and I'd hate to see a safe option go away."
The hemp industry has been primarily under fire for being unregulated, creating opportunity for “bad actors" and alleged marketing towards children. In some cases, families told the Senate committee that their children were suffering because of products in the industry.
However, there are now more than 7,000 registered hemp retail locations in Texas.
"It's a booming industry, there's a lot of money in it and Texans want it," Griffin McGaughey added.
The McGaugheys don't think an outright ban is what Texas needs to do, however, they can agree that there could be more regulations.
"The hemp industry can work really well with Texas and I think we can figure it out if they give us a chance," said Griffin McGaughey.
"There's a lot of products that you don't know what's in it, so the lab testing is very important," Kristi McGaughey explained. "I also think there should be a standard on the lab testing, too. Right now, it's just it's the wild west."
Kristi McGaughey said there should be an age requirement, just like they practice at their store. They check IDs and have settings in their check out system to ensure the purchaser is 21. The Central Texas couple also believes there should be childproof packaging.
The Senate Committee on State Affairs heard from dozens of people who provided testimony. Now they plan to meet at least one more time to consider the issue and possibly work to begin developing some plans for new legislation.
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