MAHA a “yes”- but no to Reefer Madness

In recent years (and certainly during the last political cycle) the United States has
experienced a growing shift, and overall desire for natural products, with an increasing
number of people seeking alternatives to processed foods, beverages, and man-made
medicines.

This movement towards holistic choices preceded the more recent MAHA (Make America
Healthy Again) campaign, made popular by Robert F. Kennedy, who has been undergoing
hearings to become the nation’s top health official as Secretary of The United States Health
and Human Services agency.
In an era where processed foods, drinks, and synthetic medicines have dominated, there is
a rising popularity of plant-based solutions, as well as a nationwide effort to restore vitality
by regaining a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle. In its most elemental form MAHA seeks
to empower individuals to take control of their lives by embracing organic, plant-based, and
holistic approaches.

Hemp, a versatile plant with nutritional, health, and industrial benefits, is emblematic of
that significant shift towards more natural lifestyles, offering the least amount of THC from
the cannabis plant, along with high concentrations of CBD, omega fatty acids, fiber and
protein.

Recent misrepresentations of hemp (again by definition delivering the least amount of
psychoactive compound THC than any other offering) are reminiscent of an equally out of
touch 1930’s exploitation film “Reefer Madness”. The movie’s premise revolves around
melodramatic events after high school students are introduced to marijuana. Decades
later, the film is now only referenced and enjoyed as a campy parody for laughs.
Although SB 3 has yet to be released (as of this writing) it is no laughing matter, and it too
would seem to suffer from the same, out of step relationship with today’s reality. If the state
of Texas suffers from a “THC problem” it is only logical to deduce that the problem is
derived from sources containing large amounts of THC- not the product with the lowest
amount. Anything being offered as hemp but surpassing the .03 percent THC by dry weight,
by definition, is marijuana and not hemp. So, if Texas has a THC problem it is due in part to
unscrupulous sellers seeking to circumvent existing laws- not the 8,000 licensed hemp
concerns seeking to adhere to it.

Admittedly, the state of Texas has an enforcement problem with perhaps up to eight agents
seeking to enforce existing laws surrounding licensing, quality control, and compliance

checks. Additionally, hemp should be available only as intended: for responsible, adult
use. We need to refine regulations and pass similar product restrictions, akin to those
applied to alcohol, tobacco, and nicotine.

Any thought of prohibiting the product outright should be met with caution. In age of e-
commerce and a historically mobile populace, the thought of eliminating the product

altogether seems fanciful. Afterall, a similar attempt to make alcohol illegal in the United
States is now often referred to as the “Failed Noble Experiment”. From 1920-1933 the
United States saw crime, sickness and deaths climb as black-market alcohol hit the
streets to satisfy the public’s thirst. Today the transport of any product is easier than ever,
as out-of-state and overseas internet concerns would prosper under any prohibition, while
Texas businesses would be shuttered and over 50,000 industry jobs lost. Bootlegged and
black-market products raise the specter of a true public health concern: fentanyl
poisoning.

I remain optimistic that our legislative leaders will ultimately embrace MAHA by allowing
Texans to make individual choices in pursuing healthier lifestyles and rejecting the dated,
misplaced mindset of Reefer Madness.

Keep in mind how proud (and rightfully so) our legislative leaders are of the “Texas Miracle”:
the Lone Star State has been recognized as the Best State for Business for 20 years! It has
won the prestigious Governor’s Cup 12 years in a row for being the most job-creating
corporate location or place to expand existing businesses. Based on federal and state
legalization of hemp, it has grown year-over- year and was valued at being an $8 billion
industry in 2022. Hemp industry owners are part of the 3.2 million small businesses that
employ nearly half of all working Texans. As our legislative leaders like to say they, small
business is the backbone of our state’s economy.

In closing- further, thoughtful regulations to protect the consuming public, by restricting
access to adults, and ensuring those who wish to purchase the product are doing so
through duly licensed, regulated, law-abiding businesses, will serve Texas best. I look
forward to the state winning its 13th Governor’s Cup in a row, and the hemp industry being a
part of that calculation.

Mark Bordas
Executive Director
Texas Hemp Business Council
02/13/25