This is our short weekly review of what’s going on in cannabis in the week of 06/04/2022. An analysis of drug tests shows failures are up across the nation while Texas remains below national average, a hemp farm in Navarro county has felony marijuana charges dropped, and San Marcos has collected enough signatures to put decriminalization on the ballot in November. Audio player included directly below for those on the go.
Quest Diagnostic results were analyzed and showed that the average positive rates across the nation had gone up, to include marijuana. For marijuana an increase of 20.3% was observed between 2021 and 2020, and an increase of 68.2% between the five years of 2017 and 2021.
Part of the problem is that some people are saying that they are failing a marijuana test after not consuming marijuana. That they are failing for using legally purchased CBD products. CBD products legally purchased in Texas under state and federal law. As well, part of the issue may stem from the fact that currently delta-8 thc falls under the legal branch of hemp when it is hemp derived.
Learn how to become a medical cannabis patient in Texas
The issue of delta-8 in Texas is tied up in courts rights now as the state tried to officially ban the substance outside of legislative means, and hemp advocacy groups such as the Texas Hemp Federation have been fighting to keep a proper analysis and review of the product in the state’s purview.
The issue is that a drug test does not test for specific isomers from THC, but the metabolites that the body produces after consuming THC. All of these THC isomers result in the same metabolite being produced and a failing drug test for employment screenings. Even products such as oils with low THC amounts can cause a failing of a drug test over time, and only pure isolates can reduce the likelihood of such failures.
Texas did find itself below the national average when it came to positivity rates for marijuana. One area did stand out though on a zip code map provided. The Wichita Falls area had a higher than national average failure rate. This could likely be due to the city’s proximity to the Oklahoma border where a robust medical cannabis program is currently in place.
Read more about Delta-8 in Texas
A felony marijuana possession charge was dropped against a licensed hemp grower in Navarro County as reported by Jacob Vaughn of the Dallas Observer.
Hunter Robinson of Sky and Hobbs organics had been facing a felony possession charge for over a year despite never being in possession of marijuana. Early last June, the Navarro County Sheriff’s department raided the hemp farm operation under the notion that their business was not legal. The department continued the raid and push for prosecution even when the business presented all of the legal paperwork provided by the state showing the business was legitimate and legal.
The motion states. “There is evidence to show that [Robinson] was in possession of marijuana that contained more than .3% concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol, however, there is insufficient evidence at this time to prove that [Robinson] intended to possess, produce, or distribute, marijuana that contained more than .3% concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol,”
Robinson stated to the Observer, “We have spent the last 365 days in dire legal jeopardy, and facing felony charges is like having a loaded gun to your head,”
“There was absolutely no respite from the financial, reputational, and emotional impact on me and my partner. Worse, our families have been devastated. However, today we are beyond grateful that we are surrounded by a team of advocates who know the law and are passionate about helping industry stakeholders who are being unfairly targeted,” Robinson stated
The two showed the officers their lab paperwork showing they were within legal limits, but the county sheriff tested the material and it came back just barely over the limit. Even with that taking place the Texas law carves out an exemption. The exemption allows for a bad grow to have the failing crop trashed and face no criminal penalties. The crops would have to test at over 1% THC and the growers be found with evidence by the state that it was beyond negligence.
Read more about Delta-8 in Texas
Unfortunately this matter has cost the two men so much that they have been forced out of the industry in the foreseeable future.
Read more about the smokable hemp ban in Texas
Mano Amiga, working with Ground Game Texas and Texas Cannabis Collective has reached the signature goal to put decriminalization on the ballot in November.
“Clearly, a substantial portion of the San Marcos electorate has spoken and it is now the duty of City Council to afford voters the opportunity to approve it at the ballot box in November. This is true democracy from the ground up, and I’m here for it,” said Alyssa Garza, a San Marcos City Council member.
Mano Amiga informed TXCANNACO that as of their May 30th review, the organizers report they have independently verified over 4,300 valid, unique signatures, when City Charter only requires 4,182, or one-tenth of the amount of registered voters in the City. On the turn in day over 5000 signatures had been verified and approximately 11,000 were turned in to the city clerk.
Articles on Texas decriminalization and penalty reduction
Mano Amiga reached this milestone by exploring various avenues to collect signatures to include block-walks, campaigning on the Texas State (TXST) campus, reaching out to veterans organizations, and local media outlets such KZSM and Texas Cannabis Collective. The group will be looking to get people in the town registered to vote for the upcoming election.
I’m Jesse Williams and that does it for this week of cannabis review news. To stay up to date visit t x cannaco dot com or just search for Texas Cannabis Collective and subscribe on our site to get updates. As well search for Lonestar Collective to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite streaming service.