Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller An eighth-generation farmer and rancher, Sid Miller is the 12th Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). He has devoted his life to promoting Texas agriculture, rural communities and the great state of Texas.
Born in De Leon, in Comanche County, in September 1955, Sid Miller graduated with honors from Tarleton State University in Stephenville with a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Ag Education.
A recognized community leader, Miller was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2000. He quickly earned a reputation as a staunch defender of Texas agriculture, constitutional freedoms and individual liberties for all Texans.
Russell & Shayda were waiting for Sid Miller to call, but end up moving the conversation to alternative media, the growing space for Cannabis Culture as Texas becomes more closer to legalization. The two talk about media experience and how the Texas market needs voices and role models and advocacy for this wonderful plant. (Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller calendar freed up and he calls in the next day to speak with Russell)
Russell interviews Freeway Ricky Ross about the ongoing drug-war and talk about his new line of products while also addressing the political challenges Texas has with regards to Marijuana reform in the lone star state. Kevin Booth (who knows Ricky Ross and are currently developing business projects together ) calls in and the conversations continues about the failed prison system and criminalization aspect. Rick may return to Texas for the upcoming Lucky Leaf Expo!
Russell and Kevin go down memory lane discussing the acid water in south Austin and the days when both were at Austin Public Access TV but at different times and years. Alex Jones, Joe Rogan, Bill Hicks, Dave Pruitt, Nathan, and Ol Bitty Flashback’s loom as the duo discuss alternative media in the early 2000s and early 90s in the Underbelly of Austin’s Conspiracy Culture. A great idea for Kevin’s Next Film.
Russell & Jesse interview the Legendary Comedian Tommy Chong about his CBD Brands and discuss the Drug War and how might Texas legislatures move forward with the economics of marijuana. You can also read the interview in our July cover of the Texas Hemp Reporter magazine.
Russell Dowden and Coleman Hemphill discuss the end of the 87th Legislature and address the bills that did not pass, and what did pass.
ILISSA NOLAN serves as the Executive Director for the Texas Hemp Coalition. Ms. Nolan was one of the few lobbyists that worked to pass HB 1325 which made it legal to grow and process hemp in Texas. She also serves as a government affairs consultant for Booth & Associates P.C. where she works to build policy through stakeholder collaboration and educating clients on cutting edge issues surrounding state and federal environmental matters, especially topics involving agriculture, rural affairs, and environmental issues.
Live from The Lucky Leaf Expo at the Austin Convention Center (May 15, 2021 ) we interview Nishi Whitley board member at Foundation for an Informed Texas (FIT) is a 501c3, tax-deductible, educational nonprofit focused on educating Texans about cannabis through tools, resources and outreach. We also speak to Joe Pedraza TPS Lab who talks with us about soils and farming, Nathan from Hempliance also says hello, and finally actor Daniel Villarreal stopped by for a quick chat. Daniel works with PAKALOLO PLUG in San Antonio and is best known for his work with landing his first acting part in Stand and Deliver playing Chuco, the finger man. Best known as Little Puppet in American Me.
Nishi Whiteley (pronounced Nee-sha), is the COO of CReDO Science, LLC, a biopharma IP holding company dedicated to commercializing patented products generated from CReDO’s investigation of the cannabis plant and the endocannabinoid system (ECS). She is also the VP of Business Development at Breeder’s Best, a cannabis IP genetics company, a cannabis educator, speaker and author.
Jesse, Russell & Coleman talk about the existing bills with the 87th Legislature that remain on the chopping block; while they also interview H-empirical CBD CEO John Long and head Medical Director Dr. Wendy Askew.
John Long is CEO for H-Empirical, Inc. He is also the CEO for Agronomics of Texas and investor for Totally Happy Cows, LLC (An CBD Agriculture company for cattle and horses). He’s has been a nurse for 28 years specializing in ER, ICU, Rheumatology, Gastroenterology, Neurology and Dermatology.
Dr. Wendy Askew is a board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist in private practice in San Antonio, Texas. She is also board certified in Functional and Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Askew is the Chief Medical Officer for H-Empirical, Agronomics of Texas and Totally Happy Cows LLC.
Jesse Williams of Texas Cannabis Collective hosts this week with Coleman Hemphill of the TXHIA as co-host. This weeks guest is Eddie Velez founder and CEO of Oak Cliff Cultivators. Oak Cliff Cultivators strives to engage with the community, educate, and inform on hemp cultivation and the alternative solutions it brings to everyday life. Oak Cliff dominated the Taste of Texas Hemp Cup awards with their hemp products this past year. For more information on Oak Cliff visit Oakcliffcultivators.com
Jesse Williams hosts this week. Russell takes a phone call DJ spot from home as he recovers and discusses various topics with Dan “Taxation is Theft” Behrman. The podcast covers Behrman’s run for governor of Texas, his line of hemp products Nugg of Knowledge, and cannabis advocacy in both Texas and the nation. Check his brand out at nuggofknowledge.com
Live from The Lucky Leaf Expo at the Austin Convention Center (May 14 , 2021 ) we interview many colleagues from the Hemp and MJ space in Texas. Jax Finkel of Texas NORML along with Heather Fazio Director of Texans for a Responsible Marijuana Policy join in along with Coleman Hemphill of the Texas Hemp Industries Associates as we all get together and talk about the new wave of growth in the Lone Star State!
Coleman Hemphill and Jesse Williams host this week with Guest Shayda Torabi of Restart CBD. Discussions include delta 8, bills in Texas House, quality assurance with consumer products, 3rd party testing and more.
Jesse Williams of Texas Cannabis Collective and Coleman Hemphill of TXHIA and Ionization Labs talk about recent events in Texas to Include HB3948, HB99, HB3722, the federal Safe Banking Act passing congress and much more. Russell Dowden is out this week as he recovers from getting a new grill.
A couple of family-owned farmers on the program this week, one from California and a local Farmer here in central Texas.
Aaron Owens – The Tejas Hemp family combines these longstanding friendships and business relationships to realize our vision of providing the highest quality of Made In Texas hemp products. Tejas Hemp is a privately held corporation headquartered in Dripping Springs, Texas, just west of Austin. Visit https://www.tejashemp.com/about
Landon Currier: Procurement & Sales for Imperial CBD Extraction and is owned by Andrew and John Currier. Andrew and John Currier have over 30 years of produce and hay growing experience in the Imperial Valley and are two of the first farmers to grow hemp in the area. John Currier is currently an acting Board Member of the California Hemp and Advisory Council. Both Andrew and John Currier are active members of The Imperial County Farm Bureau. Visit https://www.imperialcbdextraction.com/our-team for more info.
Morris talks with Jesse, Coleman and Russell about their recent visit to NOCO 7 in Denver. ( listen podcasts 21-22) Expectations in the coming years with the Texas Market as it relates to Industrial Hemp. Also discussed are HB 99, Texas HB 1535 by Rep. Stephanie Klick and other related bills for Hemp or Cannabis in the Lone Star State.
Texans deserve medicine like many other states citizens who have legally made the plant available. In fact, 15 states in the U.S. have decriminalized its use. In addition, a total of 36 states, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands have approved comprehensive, publicly available medical marijuana/cannabis programs.
Texans are hoping that this current 87 Legislature at the very least expands on its current medical marijuana.
Cannabis/hemp advocate and entrepreneur Morris Beegle is Co-founder and President of the WAFBA (We Are For Better Alternatives) family of brands, including the NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s most comprehensive hemp-centric exposition, trade-show and conference, and Let’s Talk Hemp Media.
WAFBA also includes Silver Mountain Hemp Guitars, maker of hand-crafted hemp guitars, cabinets and components; the Tree Free Hemp paper and printing company, and more.
Spanning education, advocacy and entertainment, Beegle engages audiences around the world through podcasts, digital and print media, radio, and live events.
Heather Fazio joins in on the conversation about Texas Legislation live from NOCO 7 in Denver.
Heather is a strong advocate of individual liberty and personal responsibility, Heather Fazio has worked toward limited government since 2009. She served as Executive Director of Texans for Accountable Government from 2011-2014 and has served as an advisory board member of Texas NORML since 2012.
Heather served as Texas Political Director of the Marijuana Policy Project from 2014-2018. Now, she utilizes her passion for grassroots activism and coalition building as Director of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, an advocacy-focused coalition.
Jesse, Coleman & Russell speak to Nathan about the Hempliance App and program.
Built-in blockchain, Hempliance tracks EVERYTHING, including lab test results, buyer/seller information and the GPS location of each event in the growing cycle. The documents create a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that we can share electronically to meet compliance requirements, allowing you to sell for a higher price. The single HIPAA compliant cloud database deployed across all platforms ensures the security and integrity of the data given to all parties to protect you and your crop. We have spent the last year working with an FDIC bank for regulatory compliance in the hemp market. Our automated invoices are emailed to all parties, including the bank, so there is full transparency on the test results and other aspects of the transaction, getting your profits faster.
HEMPLIANCE: The secure hemp blockchain software system offering COMPLIANCE – TRANSPARENCY – ACCOUNTABILITY We’re innovators, farmers, data scientists, software engineers, agricultural Ph.D.s, and politicians that developed a revolutionary way to transfer data in the easiest way possible in the new hemp market.
