Texas Hemp Reporter recently wrapped a new delivery vehicle for making deliveries, attending special events and producing live remote podcasts at CBD business’. Another goal is to be present at events at the State Capitol for legislative activism, Cannabis events and to further marketing awareness about the Texas Hemp Reporter in the hemp and cannabis space.
What is The Texas Hemp Show ?
The Texas Hemp Show is the official podcast for the Texas Hemp Reporter Magazine: The Texas Hemp Show is recorded every Wednesday at from 6 -7pm and is released each Friday. For news and the latest information on the growing Hemp & Cannabis industry in the Lone Star State subscribe to our magazine the Texas Hemp Reporter online and follow us wherever podcasts are available.
If you are interested in having a Podcast of the Texas Hemp Show in your Event or Business contact the Texas Hemp Reporter.
Keep an eye out on the road for the Texas Green Machine and be sure to Honk at us for Legal Cannabis!
Russell profiling Tejas Tonic water on the Texas Hemp Show Podcast with Aaron Ownens at Tejas Hemp
The Texas Hemp Reporter attended the first ever Texas Hemp Day at the Capitol and Rachel was there for a report with activity with lawmakers. Written & Produced by Rachel Nelson.
Texas Hemp Day at the Capitol was a huge success, marking the first time that Texas’ hemp industry came together at the capitol. The event provided an opportunity for members to interact with one another, as well as state representatives and senators. The work accomplished at the capitol is expected to benefit the industry in the current legislative session.
The Texas Hemp Coalition expressed their appreciation to all those who came to Austin to show their support for the coalition and the Texas hemp industry, and looks forward to seeing them again soon.
As the 88th Texas Legislature convened on January 10, 2023, the Texas Hemp Coalition’s tenant of “advocacy” is carried out during this session as they continue to fight for the industry’s prosperity. The final day of the legislative session is May 29, 2023, and the coalition encourages industry supporters to reach out to their State Representatives and Senators to voice their concerns and support for the hemp industry in Texas.
The coalition’s federal and state legislative priorities include protecting all cannabinoids for consumable hemp products, ensuring retailers and manufacturers are protected for future cannabinoid products for the market, advancing regulatory efforts towards legalizing hemp feed as a protein for animals for human consumption, urging the FDA to regulate CBD as a dietary supplement, protecting and fighting for farmers to have a more efficient program, updating legislation to reflect changes from USDA rules, passing a 2023 Farm Bill to reflect a more industry-supported hemp program, and giving agencies the ability to update statute per the 2023 Farm Bill.
In terms of Texas legislative priorities, the coalition is supporting SB 264 by Senator Charles Perry, which relates to the production, sale, distribution, delivery, and regulation of consumable hemp products, and SB 321 by Senator Charles Perry, which relates to the production and regulation of hemp, providing administrative penalties, and creating a criminal offense.
On the federal level, the coalition is supporting H.R. 6645: The Hemp Advancement Act of 2022 by Rep. Chellie Pingree, which aims to make it easier and more profitable for U.S. farmers to grow hemp while ensuring consumers of hemp are protected against unsafe products, the Safe Banking Act by Rep. Ed Perlmutter, which would protect institutions administering financial services to all legal cannabis businesses by preventing any penalization from federal regulators, and the Hemp and Hemp Derived CBD Consumer Protection and Market Stabilization Act of 2021 by Rep. Kurt Schrader, which would ensure that hemp-derived CBD and other non-intoxicating hemp ingredients could be lawfully marketed as dietary supplements.
Overall, the Texas Hemp Coalition’s legislative efforts are focused on supporting the growth and prosperity of the hemp industry in Texas, and they are actively engaging with lawmakers and stakeholders to achieve these goals.
Clay talks with us about his research in this Hemp Sciences at TAMU. He also contributes to the magazine with a few articles a month.
What is The Texas Hemp Show ?
The Texas Hemp Show is the official podcast for the Texas Hemp Reporter Magazine: The Texas Hemp Show is recorded every Thursday at from 6 -7pm and is released each Friday. For news and the latest information on the growing Hemp & Cannabis industry in the Lone Star State subscribe to our magazine the Texas Hemp Reporter online and follow us wherever podcasts are available.
HOUSTON, TX, March 5th, 2023 -Pharmacology University and ZAR Wellness is currently contacting Texas legislators to get its medical cannabis Bill sponsored and presented during this legislative session. Contrary to the current cannabis laws of the state of Texas, this proposal would add the following medical conditions: • Cancer • AIDS and Human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) • Multiple Sclerosis • Epilepsy or other seizure disorders • Glaucoma • Alzheimer • Autism • Incurable neurodegenerative diseases • Parkinson’s Disease • Crohn’s Disease • Fibromyalgia • Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Ulcerative Colitis • Substance Use Disorder (SUD) • Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or intractable pain unrelieved by standard treatments or medications • Anxiety disorders, including anorexia, muscle spasms, spasticity, sleep disorders, and obesity. • Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Intractable pain, unrelieved by standard medical treatments and medications endometriosis, traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches and tension headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc disease, central pain syndrome and neuropathic pain.
“Though we are incredibly grateful to our Texas legislators for providing cannabis laws allowing some Texas patients to be able to receive cannabis medication for their illnesses, we cannot ignore the fact that the law in its present form is definitely not working” says Anne Graham, Legal Counsel for Pharmacology.
The Bill also segregates the licenses into different categories, if passed the law would create four different licenses: manufacturing, growing, research and a dispensary license. This would help diversify the industry as it would be easier for new actors to participate in the market with a smaller budget.
In conclusion, the Bill is filthy rich with ideas that could help millions of people/patients in the state of Texas, create a great amount of employment, small business opportunities, involve minorities and expand medical research possibilities. It’s time for Texas to medically and scientifically lead the nation with alternative medication in an honest and reputable process, the way Texas is accustomed to be: #1 and Texans are ready for proper leadership and big change.
For more information please contact: Dante Picazo, CEO (214) 733-0868 Anne Graham (832) 548 5857 www.pharmacologyuniversity.com [email protected]
Are you a plant lover looking to expand your collection yet concerned about your lack of green space? Look no further than the confines of your home. It can be equally frustrating to expand upon your love of plants especially if you don’t have a yard. You don’t need a green thumb as long as you have the right materials, setup, and proper care, you can turn your greenhouse dreams into an indoor paradise reality.
You should first decidewhere you want to put your plants and how large the setup should be.
The location of your plants should be easily accessible, and of course, the size of your setup should be based on how much space you have and how many plants you want to grow. Most houseplants need bright, indirect light, although most will be happy with a window facing East, West, or South. If you don’t have much natural lighting in your home, you will need to buy LED Grow Bulbs for your DYI greenhouse.
Secondly, it’s important to consider the type of material you will need.
Some examples can be wood, metal, or plastic framing depending on your goal. Select the right materials for your greenhouse to ensure proper ventilation, temperature, and humidity. Glass or plastic is a great choice of material since it allows light to pass through quite easily. Although if you don’t want to spend time building a greenhouse, you can store them in a vitrine or even a curio cabinet that may be ideal granted, they get light and are properly hydrated. A frame is essential to the foundation of your greenhouse. You can add ventilated plastic sheeting around the frame to trap moisture.
Next, plan your layout, including placement and any other additional features, such as shelving and/or lighting. Consider your path and ventilation system to ensure your greenhouse is easy to navigate to (if it’s large) and maintains a healthy growing environment. Adding shelving to your greenhouse may be best if you decide to grow your collection further.
Lastly, hydration is key, depending on the types of plants you have. You should install a small humidifier and fan to help hydrate your critters in case you are not available to water your plants daily. Greenhouses can be very hot during the day, so it’s important to have a cooling system in place to regulate the temperature. You can choose to have ventilated plastic sleeves around your shelving so you can easily lift them up to let air in.
List of supplies you may need to get started:
Cabinet or shelving (price varies)
LED Grow lights… $35-45
Humidifier (price varies)
Small Fan $10-15
Power strip $5
Humidity meter $1
Plastic Sheets (in case you decide to use a shelf with openings)
Heavy Duty Stapler to staple the plastic sheets to the wood frame
Ultimately plants can be great pals for removing toxic agents in the air through a built-in air purification system they have. The addition of plants can also improve your health and has been known to sharpen your focus if you have an office or classroom. The level of difficulty to design your greenhouse is medium to low. An indoor greenhouse can help create a warm inviting space where your plants can thrive year-round. An indoor greenhouse is a great idea if you are out of town often or if you live in an area where it freezes during the winter months. You can easily control the environment of your DYI project and start enjoying your greenhouse vibes regardless of the weather outside. But remember that if you love your plants year-round, they will love you back with their endless potential! Happy Gardening!
Landmark memorandums from The Office of the Texas State Chemist, issued in January 2023, set the stage for Hempseed Oil & Meal to go to market.
DEL NORTE, CO, UNITED STATES, February 16, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — Texas became the third state to approve Hempseed Oil and Hempseed Meal as feed, launching what is expected to become a highly lucrative market segment for hemp growers, processors, distributors, and retail channels.
“The hemp seeds when made into feeds, support animal health with a naturally available plant-based protein that includes all 20 amino acids, plus Omega 3, 6, 9 & GLA fatty acids,” says Monte Robertson, owner of SLV Hemp in Colorado. “We’re honored to supply hempseed feed over the years to support the research trials for rabbits, horses, chickens, and rough stock bucking bulls at Tarleton State University (TSU) and the swine trials at Texas A & M University (A&M) that prove it. This historic decision in Texas will help unlock many large markets – paving the way for wider use of hempseed feeds in the US and throughout the world.”
In the Feed and Fertilizer Control Services (FFCS) Memorandum NO. 5-35 and FFCS Memorandum NO. 5-36, Hempseed Oil and Hempseed Meal, Mechanically Extracted, are the new ingredients approved in Texas as source nutrients in the diets of foals, mares, breeding and maintenance horses as well as for broilers, layers and breeder chickens.
The important FFCS memorandums are expected to accelerate the adoption of both these ingredients. Tests to define labeling, stability and shelf-life of these products are moving forward.
Graduate students from TSU and Texas A&M University started looking at Hemp Feed products from SLV Hemp to support their trials in the summer of 2020. It took a wide range of people and companies contributing over the years to make this approval happen.
The Colorado certified seed for the trials was donated by International Hemp, and was processed by SLV Hemp in Del Norte, Colorado. SLV Hemp has processed approximately 10 tons of finished products for the Texas universities’ trials to date. It is important to note the feed is made from well-cleaned Hemp seeds, not the greenery part of the plant that contains the higher levels of cannabinoids.
LMike Smith, a former rodeo professional and current Texas Realtor, generously contributed by making introductions between key researchers and hemp industry resources. To assist in reducing transportation costs and avoid delays, Smith also transported the processed Hemp Feed from Colorado to Texas for the A&M and some of the TSU trials.
“Our goal is to help educate the ag industry and expand availability of hemp feed processing plants for local markets across the country,” says Robertson. “We are genuinely excited about the ground-breaking progress by the universities in Texas.”
For more information contact: Monte Robertson, SLV Hemp, [email protected] , (719) 299-5000
#HempFeed #HempSeedProcessing #HempOil
About the Office of the Texas State Chemist The Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Services (FFCS) of the Office of the Texas State Chemist regulates the manufacture, distribution and sale of feed ingredients and feed. Texas Commercial Feed Control Act §141.008 authorizes to FFCS approve new ingredient definitions for hemp in commercial feed: Hempseed Meal and Hempseed Oil, Mechanically Extracted, are new ingredients for use as a source of nutrients in the diets of foal, mare, breeding and maintenance horses and for broiler, layer and breeder chickens.
About SLV Hemp The San Luis Valley Hemp Company® (SLV Hemp ) specializes in processing Hemp feed and oil products at their facility in Del Norte, Colorado. They advocate education in all aspects of the Hemp industry, and provide consulting based on lessons learned since 2014.
About International Hemp
International Hemp provides certified seed and cultivation advise to farmers across the country interested in growing Hemp for both the grain and fiber markets.
A popular question that comes up in my retail (RESTART CBD) is when will Texas recreationally legalize cannabis? And with the 88th legislative session currently in session as of January 10th, 2023, a good reminder is that, in Texas, bills become law during legislative session.
PLEASE NOTE: Recreational legalization is also referred to as “Adult Use”.
So now is a really good time to break down the aforementioned question with timing and history in consideration.
Let’s begin by defining the word “legalize”- according to Oxford Languages it is to “make (something that was previously illegal) permissible by law.”
Texas is one of the more slow moving states on Cannabis because of the Conservative Leadership in State Government.
The whole reason we’re advocating for cannabis legalization in Texas is because starting in 1915, El Paso was the first US city to individually restrict cannabis. It would go through further restrictions up until the possession of cannabis was banned statewide in 1931.And until 1973 it would remain classified as a narcotic with the possibility of life sentences imposed for possession of small amounts.
In June 1973, House Bill 447 was signed into law to significantly reduce penalties for cannabis offenses.Prior to its passage Texas had the harshest cannabis laws of any state in the nation, with possession of any amount classified as a felony offense punishable by two years to life in prison.With the passage of the bill, possession of up to two ounces was reduced to a class B misdemeanor, punishable by a $1000 fine and prison sentence of no more than 180 days.
Fast forward to June 2015 when Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 339 – the Texas Compassionate Use Act (TCUP) – to allow the use of low-THC cannabis oil (less than 0.5% THC) for the treatment of epilepsy. (For those of you who may be unaware, TCUP is our states medical marijuana program.)
Then in June 2019 House Bill 1325 was also signed into law by Governor Abbott to legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp (cannabis containing less than 0.3% THC). This bill also legalized possession and sale of hemp-derived CBD products without need for a doctor’s approval as compared to the TCUP program.
Now let’s pause right there, because for the last four years some interesting things have shifted for TCUP and for hemp in Texas. During the 2021 87th legislative session, we saw the TCUP program expand to 1% THC and added conditions including all forms of cancer and PTSD. And in the hemp, the Texas Supreme Court upheld the ban on the manufacturing and processing (but not sale) of smokable hemp in June 2022.
Getting back to the question at hand, when can we expect to see cannabis recreationally legalized in Texas? Personally speaking, I think you have to take into consideration Texas’ timeline. We meet every two years as a state, and TCUP is capped at 1% right now amongst other setbacks the program has. I anticipate the TCUP program will try to expand yet again this legislative session but how much is yet to be determined, so more to come at the end of May when session ends.
I also encourage you to look into the differences between a medical marijuana program (our current version is TCUP) and adult use recreation. Medical marijuana programs require a doctor sign off to essentially to qualify you into the program. Compared to adult use recreational where it is more akin to purchasing alcohol once you are of legal age.
The variations of the program types are what we’re fundamentally discussing, and to see what and when Texas might make her move, we should look to some other states programs for examples of what to expect.
Missouri is a great example of a shorter timeline between medical- which was legalized in 2018, and adult use recreation- which was legalized in 2022, just four years later. Or compare that to Illinois who legalized medical in 2014 and adult use in 2020, so six years later.
Now on the other end, you have states like Arizona who legalized medical in 2010 and it took them a decade to legalize adult use recreation in 2020. Or another Texas neighbor, New Mexico legalized adult use recreation in 2022, and that was after 15 years of medical which was legalized in 2007.
The main takeaway is it is going to take time to go from a mature, key word mature, medical marijuana program to an adult use recreational program. And considering Texas meets every two years, and our current TCUP/Medical marijuana program is capped at 1% and there are other limitations to their program, I anticipate that getting sorted out in the next two to six years in legislation before you begin to see recreational legalization on the horizon.
Another major plot twist to throw into all of this is the fact that during this time, hemp became federally legal and state legal allowing for up to .3% Delta 9 THC on a dry weight basis. Almost all these mature marijuana states like Colorado, California, and Oregon legalized medical, then adult use, then hemp. But in Texas we have a different call to order. We’re slowly expanding medical into a mature program, then hemp became legalized, and we’re still advocating for adult use.
I’m not going to pretend like I know how things are going to go in Texas, but I’m paying attention to the market across our the United States and paying attention to Texas politics. It’s going to be an exciting Texas Legislative session, and I hope you’ll be following along. I’m a part of an organization called the Texas Hemp Coalition, they are going to be leading a lot of advocacy and policy work for the hemp industry this session, so if you want to get more involved please check them out. Otherwise conversations like this can always be found at ToBeBluntpod.com.
Native Austinite Embraces The Budding Hemp Industry
By Rachel Nelson
Marco Krause began experimenting with cannabidiols after a high school baseball injury left him with chronic shoulder pain. Today, he’s an entrepreneur, hemp activist and aspiring chemist.
Krause launched Dr. MAK’s Apothecary, an Austin-based e-commerce store, in 2019. With his chemistry background and help from his dad’s lab — Krause Analytical — he has formulated an assortment of natural therapeutic products.
Dr. MAK’s signature formula is its Magic Pain Juice (MPJ), a mixture of natural monoterpenes, alcohols and herbal extracts that provides several hours of pain relief. Eventually, Krause decided to add a hemp extract to the formula and dubbed it MPJ Extra Strength, or MPJXS.
While Krause admits that he laughed about the concept at the time — saying the name sounded like a gimmick — the product quickly gained popularity.
“It blew up like crazy,” Krause said. “So we started thinking, why not sell it to the CBD stores?”
Currently, MPJXS is sold at several central Texas locations.
After MPJXS took off, Krause said he began to experiment with making cannabidiol-infused gummies. Because he heard many horror stories about gummies melting in cars and warehouses, Krause said he saw the need to create a heat-resistant product. He formulated gummies that are able to withstand temperatures of up to 170-degrees fahrenheit.
“Even though they’re heat-resistant, they do dissolve, and people can digest them,” Krause said.
Perfecting his gummy formula, combined with the release of MPJXS, led to the launch of Krause’s hemp-focused brand — Underground Alchemy. In addition to specializing in the business-to-business wholesale of its own products, Underground Alchemy helps other businesses create and manufacture their own custom product formulations.
“We’re very small, but we end up doing what five- to 10-man companies do with custom formulations, and we can do it cheaper because we have less overhead,” Krause said.
To date, Underground Alchemy has helped hemp entrepreneurs create high-quality tinctures and edibles.
Beyond running his two businesses and working to complete a chemistry degree, Krause has championed hemp farming at the state level. In 2021, he testified in front of the Texas Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, speaking out against a bill that would have placed stricter guidelines on hemp faming in Texas (like limiting THC levels to 1% rather than 3%).
“Thankfully, that never made it through,” Krause said.
Moving forward, Krause plans to continue making a name for himself as a pioneer in the Texas hemp space.
“It’s been fun navigating the waters and finding out exactly what’s coming forward,” he said. “It’s impossible to stay ahead of this market.”
In March 2020, before anyone knew the pandemic would drastically change the world, three Austinites launched CBD Delivery ATX. According to co-owner Liz Pruett, timing was on their side.
“Delivery became a more important part of everyday life,” she said. “A lot of our customers have been with us since the beginning because for whatever reason, they can’t leave the house, don’t want to leave the house or feel intimidated about going into a head shop. So I think it does kind of fill a niche market of people who want to stay closer to home.”
Pruett and the other co-owners — brothers Rob and TJ Leonard — received their first delivery order a week prior to the COVID shutdown and say the phone has not stopped ringing since. Initially, the trio said they went with a delivery business model to save money on leasing a storefront, but they hoped to eventually grow into a brick-and-mortar location. However, they soon realized that “delivery was kind of the way to go,” Pruett said.
“In the early days of our business we kind of thought it was going to die off when the pandemic was over, but it kind of went the other way,” Rob Leonard said. “It just became more, so I guess this is what so many businesses are doing because people love the convenience of it.”
The owners of CBD Delivery Service tout their assortment of locally sourced products as well as their diverse customer mix — from war veterans to soccer moms and massage therapists.
“We have some people that order bath bombs and others that want every type of THC that we carry that’s legal,” Rob Leonard said.
Compliance is a priority at CBD Delivery Service, and every customer must show their ID upon arrival.
“We always ensure that it doesn’t get into the wrong person’s hands,” Rob Leonard said.
While the owners of CBD Delivery Service steer clear of making medical claims about their products, their customers have boasted many healing effects — such as relief from pain and anxiety.
TJ Leonard said his business motivation stems from wanting to help people consume hemp legally. He grew up in Maine and later moved to California — both legal states. Now that he lives in Texas, he said he hopes the business helps keep people out of legal trouble. Additionally, CBD Delivery Service aims to be fast and discreet.
“When you go into a head shop, it kind of feels like you’re doing something illegal, even though everything’s legal,” TJ Leonard said. “With us, it’s as discreet as you can make it. We don’t wear uniforms, our cars aren’t decorated.”
The owners all say they are pleasnatly surprised at how busy they have been since the pandemic cooled off, and their delivery area extends beyond the Austin city limits. A map of the service area can be found at cbddeliveryatx.com, and everyone who orders can expect to receive their products in two hours or less.
Standard delivery is $10 but jumps to $20 for the extended delivery region. However, all customers who spend $100 or more receive free delivery. Additionally, every new customer receives 25% off of their order total.
Moses Levin and Dan Marinelli, both seasoned cannabis cultivators, crossed paths when their kids shared a kindergarten class.
“I was in charge of the school garden,” said Marinelli, who has a degree in horticulture from UCLA. “I have a love for horticulture and growing plants.”
The two soon realized their common love for hemp farming. When it was federally legalized in 2019, they embarked on a venture to discover, breed and refine what they believe to be the best legal CBD seeds for their particular climate. That’s when CBD Seed Labs was born.
Although located in Southern California, the business caters to Texas farmers because of the environmental similarities.
“A lot of what we do in our genetic development is called climate tuning, which means picking out the best varieties to reproduce that tolerate the challenges of a particular climate,” Levin said. “The particular climate that we’re in has a variety of challenges that match very well with what the Texas farmer has.”
From heat and high humidity to sometimes cold temperatures, CBD Seed Labs breeds plants that are resistant to those challenges, giving the seeds an advantage to those that are produced in Colorado, Oregon and other states where there are vast climatic differences.
Additionally, “If you grab a map and draw a line from Southern California to Texas, you’re going to find that we’re at the same latitude, so we have the same light cycle, too,” Marinelli said.
Soil is also a factor. While there are many soil variants in Texas and California, Levin said one thing many of them have in common is their ability to drain quickly, which is exactly what hemp plants want.
As we head into the new year, Adam Reposa, owner of ATX Budtenders, gives expert insights on the hottest bud selections for 2023.
#1: Super Boof
Super Boof is a calming, hybrid strain that emerged by crossing Black Cherry Punch and Tropicana Cookies. Reposa said his weed delivery business will make Super Boof its signature strain in 2023, with plans to offer it at $150 an ounce (a $50 discount from 2022).
“People can buy a combo, spend $300 and receive an ounce of Super Boof and an ounce of something else, plus get a collector’s item t-shirt,” he said. “It’s kind of like the Cheese of The Month Club with weed and t-shirts.”
So, what’s so great about Super Boof?
According to Leafly, this strain boasts earthy and cherry notes that come from its dominant terpene — myrcene.
“It’s the livest fruity weed around,” Reposa said. “Plus, there’s nothing wrong with an every day standard, and Super Boof is so good, I think it can be everyone’s every day weed. With most people, you can smoke a certain strain every day and then buy another zip of something else.”
#2: Runtz
What do Dessert Runtz, Midnight Runtz, Pink Runtz and White Runtz have in common? They are all strains that graced the ATX Budtenders menu in 2022. In 2023, Reposa said his business will continue to carry Runtz, as well as keep an eye out for new mixtures that may emerge.
“You can’t go wrong with Runtz,” he said, comparing it to other legendary strains like White Widow and Northern Lights. “I’m just waiting for the Polka Dot and Chocolate Runtz strains to come out because I’m sure they’re coming.”
Runtz, also known as Runtz OG, is named for its fruity aroma that is comparable to the distinguished candy brand. It was named Leafly’s Strain of the Year in 2020, and it is known to produce euphoric and uplifting effects.
#3: Sweet Island Skunk
It’s an oldie but a goodie, according to Reposa. In fact, Reposa said he has been tossing around the idea of bringing more throwback strains into his collection, hoping to win over customers through nostalgia.
“They say that every time you do a reunion tour, no one comes, but I think there could be a lot of opportunity here,” he said.
For those who enjoy sativas and are looking for an energizing high, Sweet Island Skunk is worth trying. It was created by mixing Sweet Pink Grapefruit with Skunk #1, and its green bunds are adorned with vibrant yellow and orange hairs.
#4. Zlushies
This strain is from a highly regarded cannabis company, Raw Genetics — the creators of Gastro Pop and Apples & Bananas.
“They’ve got a bunch of badass weed,” Reposa said.
Zlushiez is an indica-dominant hybrid, and Raw Genetics boasts a robust collection of popular strains that have been crossbred with it — such as Stuffed Cherry Zlushiez and Zuni.
Texas Hemp Reporter: So how does it feel to be out in the Texas country
and farming hemp?
Adan: We’re in East Texas about 30 miles out of Louisiana. It’s pine country, hot, Jasper County. It’s great I grew up here, this is our family farm so…
Texas Hemp Reporter: What strains are you presently growing?
Adan: There are two: we have Cherry Wine and Otto II x BaOx. Both are high CBD content plants, above 6%, legal THC percentage of course.
Texas Hemp Reporter: What is your experience of the Texas Hemp Industry?
Adan: I find Texas to work as a team. The farmers, manufacturers, samplers, they band together networking. Texas can become the lead in the country in hemp production; Matt Buchanan did some sampling for us, then follow up then there’s Greg of Sweet Sensi, he works with us on rosin press extraction. I think our farm hopes to become a disrupter especially of outside raw hemp coming from out of state. Yellow Acres Farm (YAF) is a relatively small farm 85 acres but we plan to enlarge, improve our business model through growth.
Texas Hemp Reporter: What are your opinions on the Texas laws on growing hemp?
Adan: This year our team invested in lobbying, down at the Capitol, approached the House and Senate you know there’s a split in the community as well as the laws, marijuana versus hemp. The laws are are jumbled and the legislators don’t seem to study up on the difference between those industries. The scientific nomenclature versus the legal is all off, there was a bill introduced that would bundle hemp with cannabis and marijuana, and this is bad for growers. We need to insure that our businesses, our livelihoods are safe and we need to band together to amplify our interests. We did have a positive development hemp farmers now have a window of testing extended from 15 to 30 days, but this is only the beginning.
Texas Hemp Reporter: Is the Texas soil great for growing hemp?
Adan: We do a lot of enhancement work with our soil here, it’s a bit sandy. We are all natural so we add compost, minerals, microbiology, we practice replenishment. Yet the Texas climate is super for high CBD-yielding strains, the humidity these plants thrive on. So I believe we will become the lead producer of hemp as growers in the future.
Texas Hemp Reporter: Who does your team consist of?
Adan: There’s four of us, my brother Saulo who handles kind of the Operations manager position. And there’s the “bad boys of hemp” from San Antonio. Issac is our Brand Management person, handling marketing, networking and then Joshua who is our main farmer: he’s a real cultivator, checking details like the ph of water used, soil testing micro-remediation, composting, etc.
Texas Hemp Reporter: What about your R&D aspects?
Adan: I used to work in the beverage industry. I saw a lot of issues there especially concerning cannabis-infused drinks. Canada is a country that does a ton of research into cannabis. They have accumulated many patents. We had approached a Canadian Pharmaceutical company, in order to see if we could license one of their products. They couldn’t but I learned all about the issues of delivery of cannabinoids. Nano-emulsions, CBD, CBG, Delta-8 etc. For instance canning: the inner-lining is often lipid-resistant creating a short shelf-life. And many consumers also want a translucent beverage for themselves. Well CBD oil has color, some of the organolipids do as well. So we have been developing the quality of how these cannabinoids can be delivered as well as naturally preserved.
And these processes are not limited to drinks, tinctures and topical’s also. It’s a learning process.
Yellow Acres has a patent-pending for “A Method of Extraction for Immediate and Extended Release of Cannabinoids.” We’re concentrating on a process of single-dose extended duration release for both products and extractions.
We also think that licensing our IP can be very beneficial to other growers and researchers as well as developers. We hope to see the YAF label on a CBD beverage soon. And we’d like to develop gummies and candies and show them on the website. Being a farm we grow lots of vegetables so we’re using a burp-less cucumber to create a Yellow Acres Farm brand of pickles too!
Remember the days when smoking marijuana was a secret hobby that people went to great lengths to conceal? Thankfully, those days are far behind us. With marijuana-shaming being a thing of the distant past, celebrities are being more candid about their love for cannabis than ever before. Besides just using it, they are advocating for its legality and concocting their own plant strains and canna-businesses.
Here’s our list of the top 15 celebrity stoners in America today, according to their own words.
1. Willie Nelson (@willienelsonofficial)
“I don’t know anybody that’s ever died from smoking pot. Had a friend of mine that said a bale fell on him and hurt him pretty bad, though.” — Willie Nelson to The Rolling Stone in 2019
Let’s go ahead and get Willie Nelson out of the way, as the man is a leafy-green legend. He has been extremely vocal about his cannabis use for decades, and he is even rumored to have smoked marijuana in the Texas Governor’s mansion. To celebrate his love for hemp, Willie launched his own CBD brand called Willie’s Remedy that sells infused coffee, tinctures, teas and more.
2. Snoop Dogg (@snoopdogg)
“This weed is mine, get your own bag.” — Snoop Dogg’s Weed Iz Mine lyrics
Snoop is a famous rapper (not to be confused with blunt wrapper). But if the shoe fits, he will definitely wear it, because Snoop has never been shy about his cannabis consumption. He never misses an opportunity to blow huge clouds of pot smoke in his music videos or during public appearances.
3. Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong (@cheechmarin & @heytommychong)
“I take a toke, and all my fears go up in smoke.” — Cheech & Chong, 1978
We’ll go ahead and lump Cheech and Chong together, as it’s difficult to imagine one without the other. Everyone’s favorite Mexican-American pot-smoking duo has been entertaining people for decades. With nearly half a century of public weed consumption under their belts, they’re basically America’s stoned great uncles. Tommy Chong takes his stonership very seriously, which is why he launched his own cannabis brand, Chong’s Choice, in 2015.
4. Shelby Chong(@funnyshelby)
“Such a great charity event and so much fun when u take a gummy bear.” — Shelby on Instagram in May 2019
Everyone knows that couples who toke together stay together, and Shelby and Tommy Chong have been married since 1975. Their relationship is filled with warm hugs and fluffy nugs, and Shelby’s Instagram is laced with many weed innuendos.
5. Matthew McConaughey(@officiallymcconaughey)
“Say man, you got a joint? … It’d be a lot cooler if you did.” — Matthew McConaughey as David Wooderson in Dazed & Confused, 1993
As the man who was featured in one of the most well-known stoner flicks of all time, who didn’t see this coming? McConaughey’s pot use isn’t confined to the movies, though. In 1999, he was arrested for possession of marijuana, and his 2020 autobiography “Greenlights” contains several ganja references.
6. Joe Rogan(@joerogan)
“Marijuana has made me a more sensitive person. It’s enhanced my feelings on the positive aspects of community, and made me more affectionate and compassionate.” — Joe Rogan, 2019, via Instagram
Joe Rogan shares about his marijuana usage on all of his social media accounts as well as his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. Through the years, he has been a very vocal advocate for the legalization of marijuana.
7. Seth Rogen(@sethrogen)
“I’ve never gone to a movie and thought, ‘man, I wish I was less stoned right now.” — Seth Rogen, 2008 on The Daily Show
As the mastermind behind Pineapple Express, it’s no secret that Seth Rogan loves to toke up. In 2019, he co-founded Houseplants, a cannabusiness that sells three of Rogen’s favorite strains: Diablo Wind, Pink Moon and Pancake Ice. The brand also sells home goods, like ashtrays and ceramics.
8. Wiz Khalifa (@wizkhalifa)
“I’m rolling up another joint as soon as the weed’s gone.” — Wiz Khalifa’s Weed Farm Lyrics
Wiz Khalifa is one of the most unabashed stoners around. His cannabis line, Khalifa Kush, sells flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles and concentrates. He also launched his own line of stoner munchies called HotBox by Wiz.
9. Martha Stewart (@marthastewart)
“Of course I know how to roll a joint.” — Martha Stewart to Andy Cohen in 2013
Let’s face it — hanging out with Snoop Dogg makes anyone a stoner by association. Through a partnership with Canopy Growth, Martha launched her own CBD line in 2020 that offers gummies, supplements and, most recently, beauty products. Even if Martha isn’t sparking up from sunup to sundown like her partner in crime Snoop, one thing’s for certain … if you ever get the chance to try her brownies, you better take it.
10. B-Real(@breal)
“We always considered ourselves the champions of cannabis culture in terms of hip-hop and mainstream music. We reference it in the music whenever we get a chance. — B-Real, 2021, cypresshill.com
The Cypress Hill frontman (whose real name is Louis Mario Freese) is very enthusiastic about his cannabis use. He chain smokes joints on the Dr. Greenthumb podcast, which is hosted on his YouTube channel, BRealTV. He is also a leading cannabis entrepreneur, owning six Dr. Greenthumb dispensaries.
11. Soleil Moon-Frye (@moonfrye)
“What is better than to get completely blazed and stare at the Starburst Galaxy?” — Soleil Moon-Frye, 2021 on the Dr. Greenthumb Podcast
You may know her as Punky Brewster. In 2021, she released a Hulu documentary about her life called Kid 90, where she spoke openly about blazing bowls with other 90s teen stars back in the day. While she didn’t partake in marijuana during her appearance on the Dr. Greenthumb podcast last year, she did admit to having a strong contact high and reminisced back to the days when she was known by the nickname “Punky Blunts.”
12. Kirsten Dunst (@kierstendunst)
“I drink moderately, I’ve tried drugs. I do like weed.” — Kirsten Dunst, 2009 to Britain’s Live Magazine
Kiersten Dunst is ready to Bring it On. (The bong rips, that is). Although she admits she isn’t one to spend all day stoned, she has publicly advocated for the legalization of marijuana calling America’s laws against it “ridiculous.”
13. Elon Musk
“Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.” — Elon Musk, 2018, via Twitter
In 2018, Elon Musk caught a lot of flack after he smoked pot on Joe Rogan’s podcast. He later called that decision “not wise,” but really — who cares what people think when you’re worth hundreds of billions of dollars?
14. Rihanna (@badgalriri)
“Kush rolled, glass full…I prefer the better things!” — Rihanna, 2012, via Twitter
Rihanna isn’t shy when it comes to publicly indulging in cannabis. The Barbadian singer and lingerie designer once rolled a blunt on the bald head of her bodyguard at the Coachella music festival.
15. Lady Gaga (@ladygaga)
So I was weed for Halloween. BEST COSTUME EVER, IT’S SO FUN. Princess High the Cannabis Queen.” — Lady Gaga, 2012 via Twitter
Long before starring in the 2021 flick “House of Gucci,” Lady Gaga was using marijuana to get her creative juices flowing. During a 2011 60 Minutes interview, she revealed to Anderson Cooper that she smokes a lot of pot while writing music.
There are far more fine flower children that could be included on this list. In fact, Woody Harrelson, Brad Pitt and Chelsea Handler each get an honorable mention. Be sure to follow them all on Instagram to make your feed a little greener.
We’ve all heard the term, “It’s five o’clock somewhere,” but what about 4:20? We turned to Wikipedia to get to the root of where the “420” stoner reference originated.
Legend has it that the number 420 first became associated with cannabis in the 1970s when five California high school students who called themselves “The Waldos” would meet at 4:20 p.m. to search for an abandoned cannabis crop. They used a treasure map provided by the supposed grower, and while their hunts were never fruitful, the term “420” stuck.
Four-twenty became a world-renowned pot-smoking phrase after one of The Waldos, Dave Reddix, became a roadie for the Grateful Dead. They declared 4:20 p.m. as the acceptable time to smoke weed, and Grateful Dead followers helped to popularize the term.
A rolled marijuana joint half burnt, isolated on white.
In 1991, High Times Magazine referenced the term “420” for the first time, and Journalist Steven Hager wrote a feature piece about The Waldos in 1998.
April 20, a.k.a. 4/20, is now a popular counterculture holiday. It’s an occasion when stoners gather together to pass the peace pipe as well as advocate for the legalization of marijuana.
Today, the spirit of 4/20 is alive and well. Here are five ways to celebrate.
1. Visit a legal state
As 4/20/22 approached, Max Juhasz, founder of Frisco-based Cannabiz Marketing Solutions, planned to celebrate by traveling to a state where cannabis is legal, like Colorado or New Mexico.
“We can have a good old time without worrying about the nonsense,” he said. “It’s going to be a blast.”
2. Find a cannabis sale
Juhasz also shared that one of his clients in Oregon, Plain Jane, planned to have a special 4/20 sale on its hemp and CBD products.
“We usually have a huge party and celebrate,” he said. “If we can, we like to get all the farmers, growers and other people in the industry and celebrate all that we have done to help bring cannabis awareness and legalization to almost two-thirds of the country.”
3. Set out on a long road trip
This year, travel writer and marijuana enthusiast Hail Groo chose 4/20 as the day to embark on a weeks-long road trip across the western and southern United States, as well as western Canada, to explore the cannabis laws in each area.
“As someone who relies on CBD and medical marijuana and is a social media cannabis influencer, it’s essential to know the laws every place I go,” Groo said. “I’ll be walking my followers through the differences in each location, how I’m able to legally manage my disabilities and still have a great time as a solo traveler.”
Groo invites everyone to follow her journey via Instagram, where she goes by @the.cannabis.nerd.
A rolled marijuana joint half burnt, isolated on white.
4. Lounge around with friends
While 4/20 is just another day for many stoners, some people see it as a special occasion to parkake. Hannah Pierce, a media executive at Luciding, said the holiday has become an annual tradition.
“My partner and I aren’t really weed people, that is except for the 20th of April: the one day a year we let our hair down, go to a friend’s house and get high,” Pierce said.
Pierce admitted she was nervous the first time she tried weed, but since the plant is now legal in her state, she decided to give it a go when she was invited to a 4/20 party by friends.
“It felt like the perfect place to experiment and try it out whilst being surrounded by safe people in a safe environment. Since then, we’ve gone to that house every year, and every year it’s a great time. Everyone brings a ton of food, we vote on a ridiculous or crappy movie, and we lounge around in pajamas smoking and laughing all night. It’s amazing!”
5. Try Delta-8
Spencer Beaudreault, founder of Hero Brands, said he was going to “chill out with our 20mg Delta-8 gummies” on 4/20.
Delta 8 is a cannabinoid like CBD. However, unlike CBD, Delta 8 causes euphoric effects like traditional cannabis. While Beaudreault launched his business to promote plants over pills, his website cautions users to “start low and go slow,” as the gummies can take one to two hours to take effect.
6. Use caution
Chicago attorney Clyde Guilamo has a warning for those that live in states like Texas where recreational marijuana use is not legal.
“Be careful on the drive home, as some states allow police to search your car based on the odor of cannabis,” he said. Guilamo shares more on his YouTube channel, Law Talk for Non-Lawyers.
Let us first start by explaining what micro-dosing is. It’s a technique that involves taking minimal amounts of cannabis on a disciplined regular schedule. The point of this activity is to find your body’s THC perfection point. One can do this by only taking enough THC to barely perceive the effects on your mind and body without getting too altered. Why would someone want to do this? If you are a newbie and want to get familiar with cannabinoids and or terpenes, this could be a preferred method for you. Microdosing helps people get the light, therapeutic effects of cannabis without achieving a heavy, uncomfortable high and feel more comfortable with the plant itself. The art of microdosing requires discipline, patience and mindfulness.
Finding your Minimum Effective Dose MED
In this sphere of medicine, the MED [minimum effective dose] is something patients and health care providers need more understanding of. Cannabis is biphasic, so you have this excellent anti-inflammatory, relaxing properties with little to no side effects in small amounts. In large amounts, there is the possibility of unwanted effects of being too altered.
Many people who try edibles for the first time become overwhelmed by the experience. That is because everyone has a different tolerance level. For example, a 10 mg piece of chocolate will affect each person differently. Also, edibles are much different than smoking cannabis. Why do cannabis edibles feel so different? The human body processes cannabis through the liver and GI tract. The effects of the potent metabolic byproduct are called 11-hydroxy-THC. This compound resulted in a faster onset and a more intense psychoactive experience than simply THC.
Microdosing with 2.5-milligram products allows the consumer to ingest the initial THC and then gradually eat more the following day until they find their preferred comfort level. Most people who are interested in microdosing cannabis typically start with about 2.5mg or less. One can start with various teas, mints or chocolates with THC concentrations starting at 2.5 milligrams suitable for microdosing. It can take over an hour to feel some edibles’ effects, so I suggest waiting a day and trying an increased amount the following day. The reason is that some edibles if taken properly, like a tincture, can be held under the tongue goes directly into the bloodstream. Simultaneously, others are digested in the stomach and can take hours to feel the effects depending on a person’s digestive system. So it is important when microdosing to chart the amount and wait for results.
Cannabis is a medicine that should be tailored to each patient’s individual makeup. Not all people are the same, and not all products are created equal. Cultivate an understanding of your endocannabinoid system by keeping a journal to track the cannabis farmer or grower, cultivar type, consumption method, dosage and side effects. Take your time and be patient when figuring out what dosage and consumption method works best for you. Be mindful of other elements that may impact the outcome of your experience when microdosing. Such as your nutrition, hydration, environment or even state of mind. As these can all affect your experience.
Beneficial in Resetting Your Tolerance
Like in all other forms of medicine, you want to treat yourself with the lowest effective dose. For those cannabis connoisseurs, micordosing can help you identify the perfection point you may need to reset your THC tolerance. Maybe you needed higher doses of THC for treating a past condition. Maybe you have to consume larger amounts of cannabis edibles to achieve any helpful high than you once did. You have built a tolerance to the effect and may need to take a small break. If this is the case, you can try to reset your tolerance to the effects of cannabis products by microdosing.
The length of a tolerance break depends on your consumption patterns. In general, it works to stop or slow down consumption for 48 hours. After that time frame, you can start again with small doses of 1 to 2 mg of THC slowly building yourself back up. I encourage my patients to do this at least once a month to reset their tolerance levels.
Micrdosing Studies on the Rise
In Israel on July 1, 2020, PRNewswire.com — Israeli med-tech company Syqe Medical has conducted the first clinical trial to demonstrate that extremely low and precise doses of inhaled THC – the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis – can effectively relieve pain while avoiding the common side effects associated with cannabis use.
The study, published in the European Journal of Pain, is the first scientific confirmation that microdosing – the process of using extremely low doses of active drug compounds to treat various conditions – actually works with cannabis.
According to GetFluent.com, medical card users with these conditions have seen success with microdosing:
• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• HIV/Aids
• Seizures
• Crohn’s Disease
• PTSD
• ALS
• Chronic Muscle Spasms
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Chronic Pain
• Sleep Disorders
• Tourette Syndrome
• Autism
• Anxiety Disorders
Microdosing can help people get the therapeutic effects of cannabis without achieving a heavy, uncomfortable altered state and generally feel more comfortable with cannabis products. Micrdosing can also help one achieve the perfect amount for their specific healing process. If you or someone you know requires help or would like more information, contact your Cannabis Therapy Consultant for more guidance.
All information in this article is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources. Please check with your Cannabis Educated Primary Health Care Physician or Cannabis Therapy Consultant before beginning any new diet or lifestyle change.
Written by Dr. Pepper Hernandez ND, Ph.D., CTC, CNHP in ECS & Naturopathic Medicine, Cannabis Therapy Consultant, The Founder and Education Director of the Cannabis Holistic Institute. To find out more about her Telemedicine Consultations, Educational Programs, YouTube videos, and other creative content, you can find her on the massive inter-webs on all platforms or at DrPepperHernandez.com.
A 2 Part Series: Weather Modification, & Soil & Water Support for Ranch/Ag, Conservation & Fire Protection. January 19 & 26, 2023 ~ 3:00 – 4:30 PM – CST
Miles Research: Advanced Weather Modification for TX 1.19.23
Sky to Soil: 2 part zoom series on mid-to-large scale solutions related to weather and soil About: From farms, to forests, to coastlines, current extreme weather events are impacting our food and eco systems. This is taking a dramatic toll the lives and livelihoods of those who work as America’s food and ecosystem, producers and protectors. CEOs of two of the most remarkable environmental companies to date – David Miles (Miles Research/Atmospherica), and James Gaspard (Biochar Now) – will be providing information on advanced weather modification and severe weather protection – and – the benefits, uses, and funding, available for biochar.
Sky- beginning January 19, 2023 – 3:00 pm CST/1:00 pm PST (1.5 hr) Miles Research/Atmospherica: Mid-scale Advanced Weather Modification Attendees will learn about the range of advanced weather modification solutions (allevi- ation of extreme drought/wildfire/tornadic events, flooding and more); including: • overview of technology • examples of successful projects • timeline • cost • benefits and ROI • Texas regulation and licensing
SOIL:
January 26, 2023 – 3:00 pm CST / 1:00 pm PST (1.5 hr) Biochar Now: Biochar for use in agriculture, feed, wild lands, wetlands, and car- bon credit. Attendees will learn about the scope of uses, benefits and effectiveness, and funding available for various projects. • agriculture/soil/water/wild lands uses • grants • costs and ROI • grants For more information, or to register, contact Nikki Florio: [email protected]
