McAllen business owner speaks out against proposed hemp ban

2 weeks ago 60

McALLEN — Business owners specializing in hemp products in Texas are feeling nervous about the fate of their shops as Senate Bill 3 passed on Wednesday, April 16.

Oscar Guerrero, who owns Motivation Dispensary LLC in McAllen, has been putting his worry into action, advocating against the bills to save his store and support his family.

Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 28 prohibit the sale of consumable hemp products containing any amount of a cannabinoid, including THC-A and other Delta-9 products.

THC-A is currently a legal product that can be purchased in many forms — flower, gummy, vape, — at almost any Texan smoke shop.

Senate Bill 3 supporters argue that these products can cause harm when they fall into the hands of minors.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick took it a step further, claiming that retailers exploit agricultural law to sell unregulated products that threaten lives.

Guerrero testified at a SB 3 hearing on Monday, April 7, in an effort to educate lawmakers on the harmful potentials the passage of these bills could see arise.

He explained the measures he takes to ensure no minor purchases a THC-A product from his business, and the rigorous lab testing his inventory undergoes to ensure quality and safety. In addition, he says the products that move through Motivation Dispensary are sold in child-resistant packaging.

“As a father, I understand how important it is to keep these products out of the hands of minors. That’s not just a business policy — that’s a personal commitment. We go above and beyond to do things the right way” said Guerrero. “Senate Bill 3 puts responsible businesses like mine at risk. Businesses that follow the law, serve our community and operate with integrity.”

According to the Texas Hemp Business Council, the Texas hemp industry supports 53,000 jobs and more than 10,000 businesses.

Additionally, a study by Whitney Economics, states that restricting access to cannabinoid products in Texas would result in a $7.5 billion negative impact on the state’s economy.

Guerrero shared his fear that if legal routes to hemp merchandise become a thing of the past, his customers and countless other THC-A users will take dangerous, unregulated pathways to acquire these products.

The rigorous lab testing Guerrero’s products undergo ensures that they are free from contaminants like fertilizers and other dangerous chemicals.

Guerrero is also able to ensure the safety of his customers in his shop, but for people trying to illegally purchase hemp on the streets, it’s a different story.

“Unregulated means no age-checks, no lab reports and no accountability whatsoever,” said Guerrero.

When Guerrero isn’t running his shops in McAllen, he’s taking care of his two children. He says his family 100% relies on the sale of these products to put food on the table. The passage of these total hemp bans could be detrimental to their wellbeing, as well as countless small-business owning families across the state.

In addition to the stark impact this will have on Texan business owners and the economy, many regular users of Delta 9 products will feel the harmful consequences, such as McAllen resident and Motivation Dispensary regular Anthony Garcia.

Garcia, a California native turned Texas transplant, was injured in a work accident in 2003. He was dragged multiple yards by a truck, causing ruptured disks from his middle to lower back.

For the last 22 years, he says he’s suffered from constant chronic pain. He says the pain can be so unbearable that sometimes he entirely loses his appetite and the ability to sleep or get comfortable.

For years he was prescribed painkillers, which he says led him to chronic kidney disease.

He says that using Guerrero’s products as an alternative takes that pain away, providing day-to-day functionality and a sense of normality.

“It helps a lot of different people for a lot of different reasons,” said Garcia.

Now, Garcia, Guerrero and thousands of other Texans anxiously wait as HB 28 is pending in committee.

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