By Galaxy Groves
What happens when a thriving, billion-dollar industry built on plants and dreams is threatened by lawmakers? For hemp farmers and indie brands across Texas, the answer might come down to one word: survival.
🚨 The Hemp Frontier Under Fire
Back in 2019, the Texas Legislature cracked the door open for a green revolution. By legalizing agricultural hemp with less than 0.3% THC, it set the stage for a wave of entrepreneurship. Farmers turned fields into thriving businesses. Craft seltzers, gummies, and topicals hit shelves with new energy. Among the pioneers? Aaron Owens, the founder of Tejas Tonic, who transformed his ranch in Dripping Springs into a hemp-powered operation.
But today, that door is threatening to slam shut.
Republican lawmakers, citing concerns over underage THC access and unregulated products, are pushing bills that could wipe out much of the Texas hemp industry. One Senate bill already passed would ban all forms of THC, including those naturally derived from hemp. And a House proposal, currently in committee, would impose strict regulations: banning edibles and smokables, limiting sales to liquor stores, and outlawing synthetic cannabinoids.
🧃 From Field to Shelf to... Nowhere?
Aaron Owens, whose THC-infused seltzers and gummies have become local staples, says these proposals would “dramatically impact” his business. If the House bill passes, he would lose the ability to sell directly to consumers. If the Senate ban wins? Game over.
“Now my consumers would have to go to a place of alcohol to buy my non-alcoholic product? I don’t really care for that. What if you’re a recovering alcoholic?” — Aaron Owens
Owens is not alone. Hundreds of hemp growers and small business owners flooded the House committee this week, urging lawmakers to consider what’s at stake.
💸 $5.5 Billion on the Line
According to a new report by Whitney Economics and the Texas Hemp Business Council:
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Texas’ hemp industry now brings in $5.5 billion in annual sales
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It supports over 53,000 jobs statewide
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And it generates $268 million in tax revenue
Cynthia Cabrera, President of the Texas Hemp Business Council, put it plainly:
“These proposed regulations will devastate small businesses, eliminate tens of thousands of jobs and strip billions from the Texas economy.”
🌈 Hope on the Horizon?
In true resilient spirit, Owens and his team are already adapting. This week, Tejas Tonic announced a new collab with Jester King Brewery to debut a line of hemp cocktails (non-alcoholic) at the upcoming Green Acres Hop Fest on April 19.
The lineup includes:
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5mg CBD + 5mg THC per drink
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Available in cans and on draft at the brewery
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Retail launch in Austin, DFW, San Antonio & Houston
If the ban goes through, Owens says he’s willing to pivot — maybe extracting oils from hemp plants and removing THC entirely. But it’s not the dream. It's survival.
🌱 The Galaxy Groves Take
We stand with the creators, growers, and dreamers — the hands in the soil and the minds on fire. Hemp is more than a trend. It’s a cultural movement, a wellness solution, a livelihood.
Texas, don’t let a boom become a bust.
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🧪 Want to support? Buy local. Vote informed. And raise your glass — hemp-infused or not — to those who keep the green flame lit.
Stay rooted, Galaxy Groves
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