Texas Legislature Targets Loophole as Cannabis Legalization Looms

another stupid feel-good trend is on the rise

Weed is now more accessible than ever, and not just in those liberal shithole states like Colorado or California. Even in Florida, your grandparents can get their fix without having to call their drug-dealing grandson. But of course, Texas has to be a buzzkill as usual, with its stupid "compassionate use program" that only allows weed light enough to make a baby giggle.

enter the savvy entrepreneurs who give us a loophole

Some ballsy retailers are giving Texas the middle finger and finding creative ways to bring THC to the masses. Enter THCa, the loophole that's not quite THC, but close enough to get you high. It's like those "delta-9" products that are really just hemp with a buzz. And these retailers are making bank, thanks to a loophole the size of Texas in the state's Farm Bill.

welcome to the wild west of weed, texas-style

The Texas Legislature, in all its wisdom, is now trying to shut this party down. But will they succeed? Let's take a look at what's going on in this circus:

what the hell is THCa anyway?

It's basically THC's cooler, more legal cousin. THCa, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is like your regular illegal weed, but with a slight difference in its chemical structure. It's like that one friend who's a virgin, but only technically. Expose THCa to some heat, and bam! You've got yourself some good old-fashioned THC.

so, this thca stuff is legal in texas?

Surprisingly, yes. Smoking THCa is like living in a gray area, kinda like that one time you dated your cousin (it's fine as long as you don't get caught). Technically, once THCa turns into THC, it should be illegal. But the Texas Farm Bill is so high it forgot to include that detail, so smoke away, my friends!

how big is this loophole? A pretty fucking massive one.

The market for this stuff has skyrocketed faster than your mom after a few bong rips. A recent report from Brightfield Group shows a 1,300% increase in sales of delta-8 THC and other hemp-derived crap, going from a measly $200.5 million in 2020 to almost $2.8 billion in 2023. https://content.brightfieldgroup.com/how-big-of-a-threat-is-delta-8

what are these texas politicians doing about it?

Attorneys general across the U.S. are getting their tighty-whities in a bunch, begging congressional agriculture committees to define hemp products more clearly in the next federal farm bill. They're scared that states and localities won't be able to handle the "health and safety crisis" caused by these loopholes.

Back in Texas, officials are trying to tighten the screws on these intoxicating hemp products. But the future of THCa is especially uncertain, as it occupies a very gray area.

State Sen. Charles Perry, a Republican from Lubbock, is pissed as hell about this whole situation. He basically said, "I told you so" to his fellow lawmakers, knowing they'd screw up the Texas Farm Bill and let people get high through loopholes. What a bunch of stoners.

so, what happens if texas bans THCa?

A lot of businesses that rely on this loophole are screwed. Thanks to THCa, the number of registered retailers of hemp-derived products in Texas went from 1,948 in 2020 to over 7,700 last month. That's a lot of people who might need to find a new job, or a new state to sell their weed.

Estella Castro, a cannabis industry veteran, is worried about all the noobs who put all their eggs in the THCa basket. She says that more established businesses like hers can adapt, but the newbies might get rekt if they don't know how to roll with the punches.

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Beck Andrew Salgado is that one reporter your editor makes write about weed even though he clearly hates it.

Email him at Bsalgado@gannett.com, but only if you've got some good weed to share.