With the agricultural prowess and advantages that The Lone Star State holds and an Agriculture Commissioner who ardently supports the industry flourishing in Texas, industrial hemp has quite the opportunity to turn into the state’s next true cash crop. With an agricultural industry as large as Texas and the number of farmers spanning the state that will likely be interested in cultivating industrial hemp, there should certainly be an organization to represent the common interests of those in the industry.
Luckily for those attending the upcoming ATX Hemp and Wellness Expo, the Executive Director of such a group will be speaking on the Texas Legislative Panel.
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With an almost decade-old career in multiple segments of Texas politics, Ilissa Nolan knows the complicated world of Texas politics like few others. To add to her specific credentials, Nolan graduated with agricultural degrees from both Texas A&M and Texas Tech and was a lobbyist who was instrumental in getting HB 1325 signed by Governor Abbott and legalizing the cultivation of industrial hemp to a state with arguably the strongest agricultural backbone in the nation.
Through the 2019 session, Nolan saw a “need for a professional organization in Texas that was more advocacy and network-based.”
“I have this ability to reach all the sectors we need to reach. Working in politics,” Nolan says of her background, “knowing how the Legislature works and how the Department of Agriculture works.”
Launching in October of 2020, the Texas Hemp Coalition hit the ground running. Working with governmental departments such as the Dept. of Agriculture and the Dept. of Health and Human Services, emailing the Governor’s Office and multiple Legislative offices. And most importantly working on the updated version of the regulations for hemp in Texas.
House Bill 3948 could be considered a revamp and update to its predecessor from two years ago. As the Federal Farm Act of 2018 has been properly cemented into law, this bill assists in the process of Texas’ hemp industry and regulations becoming compliant with the federal standard.
In the few months since coming to fruition, Texas Hemp Coalition has already gotten itself quite familiar with the various other hemp/CBD-related groups in both Texas and on the national level.
“We are the state affiliate for the Hemp Industries Association, we’re a state advocacy partner for the US Hemp Roundtable, we’re a strategic partner for the Hemp Seed Coalition and an affiliate for the National Hemp Association.”
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Focused on building the needed infrastructure needed to run a successful agricultural industry, the board members of Texas Hemp Coalition cover all relevant facets of the industry. Members represent all aspects of the hemp supply chain; processing facilities, laboratories, farmers, retail stores to medical professionals.
By staying true to their mission statement of advancing the Texas hemp industry and spreading awareness and knowledge, Nolan and the THC have been meeting with representatives and those crucial to the layout of hemp in Texas.
“We’ve been having conversations with the Texas Department of Agriculture to the Governor’s Office and I recently spoke with the department of Economic Development to discuss economic incentives and how we can focus on the hemp industry to incentivize companies building in Texas to build processing facilities.”
They’ve also had three board members right on the floors of the Texas Capitol these past few months, lobbying and raising awareness about HB 3948 and its strong agricultural potential for Texas.
At both the upcoming ATX Hemp and Wellness Expo and the Lucky Leaf Expo in May, Nolan will be speaking on Legislative-focused panels, discussing the history and progress of industrial hemp in Texas so far as well as the regulations in place for Texas hemp business owners.
The Texas Hemp Coalition will be opening up members next month where businesses, farmers, and individuals can join. With newsletters and a podcast coming out soon that will certainly need sponsorships and guests, there are multiple ways to remain involved.