This past year has been good to Luke Temple of T&T Roots. On Oct. 18, he was crowned the first-ever Texas Terpene King for his Legendary Platinum OG Rosin, which placed first in the Taste of Texas Hemp Cup’s premiere concentrates competition.
Temple launched his organic hemp farm in 2021, and on Nov. 1, he achieved a new milestone — opening a storefront in downtown Lufkin. A ribbon cutting will take place Jan. 9 at the store, located at 120-A E. Lufkin Ave.
“It’s been phenomenal,” Temple said. “I’m probably going to start opening more days of the week.”
For now, the store is open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Temple sells products from other Texas brands in his store, such as Tejas Tonic, Oak Cliff Cultivators and Kache.
“Everything is Texas farmers, Texas owned, Texas branded,” he said.
Things have certainly taken a turn for the better, as it wasn’t long ago that the local Chamber of Commerce denied T&T Roots’ vendor application for the Texas Forest Festival — an East Texas tradition that takes place in Lufkin.
But as the old saying goes, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!” So Temple joined the Lufkin Chamber and began winning the community over with his hemp-based health and wellness products. Before long, T&T was nominated for newcomer business of the year.
“Once I joined the Chamber, I really started changing everybody’s point of view, and they could see it was helping them and helping their friends,” Temple said.
As for future plans, Temple said his next goal is to open a store in Nacogdoches. He is also in talks to help bring THC-infused beverage options to a local brewery.
Police Across Texas Using Faulty Testing to Raid Small Businesses Selling Legal Hemp
Hemp Industry Leaders of Texas Demand Law Enforcement Stop Using Questionable Standards
For Information: Kevin Lampe, Kurth Lampe Worldwide, 312-617-7280, kevin@kurthlampe.com
Over the past year, local police and sheriff’s departments have relied on faulty testing of legal hemp products. These departments are using analytical methods that the Texas Department of Public Safety official testified to in front of a legislative committee – that the analytical methods should be used to determine the legality of products sold in Texas.
Recently, a sheriff stated in the news media he doesn’t care about the science behind the analytical methods. These methods may provide law enforcement with fraudulent results. While these unsuspecting agencies have the best intentions to protect their neighborhoods, but they act on flawed intelligence.
“What is disappointing is that these law enforcement agencies are acting recklessly. It is as if they do not care about bonafide testing. They find a testing results that suit their purpose and then raid a small business and seize legal products,” said AJ Valador of Hemp Industry Leaders of Texas. “Our member businesses are being targeted by overzealous law enforcement. They seem more interested in creating headlines than following legal standards.”
Hemp Industry Leaders of Texas is committed to working with law enforcement agencies to provide support through training and transparency. HILT wishes to be a resource for law enforcement.
“Hemp Industry Leaders of Texas (HILT) will aggressively support our members and just as aggressively criticize bad actors in the Texas hemp industry. As a combat veteran, I am used to being mission-driven. Our mission is to provide our community with safe and legal hemp products. We do not tolerate illegal or shady activity in our industry,” added Valador.
“The members of HILT are committed to maintaining and developing a Texas hemp industry that is responsible and ethical. We share a common goal of offering products that provide natural, effective alternatives to traditional products, helping individuals manage chronic pain, reduce inflammation, alleviate stress and anxiety, and improve sleep quality,” said Nick Mortillaro, HILT Austin Chapter President and Managing Partner of Lazydaze Coffeeshops.Academic experts in the field of chemical testing are troubled by how hemp is tested in the United States. One scientist has reached the following conclusion.
“In my professional opinion, testing hemp-derived cannabinoids in the US has been an ongoing problem due to the high variability between labs combined with the lack of uniform protocols and procedures amongst these testing facilities. With no federal oversight regulating the labs, “lab shopping” has become very common in the hemp industry. Thus, certificates of analysis may vary greatly depending on the lab that was used and may not be a reliable source for law enforcement to use when products are seized.” wrote Dr Andrea Homes in a legal affidavit filed in the lawsuit against the Allen, Texas Police department.
Dr. Holmes continued, “The hemp industry should be able to rely on certificates of analysis provided to manufacturers by federally certified and regulated testing facilities, which will serve legally to protect all parties such as to product wholesalers, retailers, and consumers.”
Dr. Holmes is a recognized expert in the chemical testing of hemp products. She is a tenured university professor of chemistry with a background in synthetic organic chemistry, biomedical research, and analytical testing. She has considerable experience with hemp manufacturing and analytical testing.
The raids have not survived lawsuits brought by Hemp Industry Leaders of Texas (HILT) and its legal counsel, David Sergi. HILT has been holding law enforcement accountable for its actions.
“Many recent raids have used testing procedures as the basis for search warrants. The raids generate news coverage, consumers are afraid to patronize small businesses, and the business is hurt, and the owner’s reputation is damaged,” according to Sergi. “Yet, none of the cases have been tried or a conviction secured.”
Sergi is litigating cases in Allen and Waco, Texas, where law enforcement has used analytical testing to accuse local store owners of selling illegal products that were reported to contain more than the legal limit of delta9-THC. Recently, the city of Post, Texas, and the Garza County Sheriff’s Office settled a lawsuit for $80,000 after local police used questionable testing as a basis for the raid.
HILT calls on law enforcement and the local community to protect these local businesses and the people they serve. Many citizens, veterans, and seniors depend on compliant hemp to help them each day with discomfort, mood, and rest. Let’s stand up for their rights to purchase legal products that improve their health and wellness.-30-
