Welcome to another episode of "As the Texas Legislature Turns," featuring your favorite recurring villain: bad policy wrapped in a cowboy hat. This time, it’s HB 28—the legislative equivalent of saying, “We support small business,” and then tripping the mom-and-pop shop on your way to lunch with a lobbyist.
At Nothing But Hemp, we’re not just shaking our heads—we’re full-on facepalming. So sit back, grab a legal gummy (while you still can), and let’s break down this hemp mess, Texas-style.
🧾 What Even Is HB 28?
HB 4238 started as a ban-happy attempt to eliminate nearly all hemp-derived THC products in Texas. Delta-8? Gone. Delta-10? Toast, and anything with more than a whisper of euphoria? Outta here.
But wait—plot twist! After realizing that banning everything might upset a few million Texans (and more than a few taxpaying businesses), lawmakers slapped on an amendment that says:
“Okay okay, beverages are cool though.”
Yes, friends, in the grand tradition of Texas compromise, we’ve gone from “ban it all” to “let the drinks stay, but the gummies gotta go.” Because obviously, if you consume THC in a bubbly can, it’s safe—but if it’s in a delicious gummy, well now we’re talking full-blown anarchy!
🥂 Big Booze Gets a Big Ol’ Hug
So who’s winning in this half-baked policy fiesta? You guessed it—the same big liquor retailer that probably still asks for your ID when you’re clearly in your 40s.
They’ve cozied up to the bill because—surprise!—they sell beverages. And wouldn’t you know it, the only product HB 28 still allows just happens to be the kind they’re already profiting from. What a coincidence!
This is like banning all cars except the ones made by your uncle Bob’s dealership. It’s crony capitalism with a Lone Star shine.
And while we’re throwing shoutouts, let’s give a big Texas-sized wink to the Cannabis and Beverage Association (CABA), whose motto seems to be:
“Let them drink weed.”
🚫 Let’s Talk About Small Businesses (The Ones Getting Steamrolled)
The hemp industry in Texas isn’t just a couple of stoners in a garage—it’s a multi-million dollar network of local entrepreneurs, veterans, wellness advocates, and job creators. These folks built a vibrant industry from scratch while staying compliant with state and federal law.
What does HB 28 do to reward that? Pull the rug out from under them, then hand it to Big Liquor.
Banning edibles, tinctures, and vapes means:
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Thousands of jobs lost
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Mom-and-pop stores shuttered
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Entrepreneurs stuck with now-illegal inventory
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Customers turning to the black market
And don’t forget the irony here: this bill claims to be about protecting kids. But the real effect? Making it harder for adults to access legal, tested, responsibly packaged products, while driving people toward unregulated alternatives. That’s some real “Mission Accomplished” energy right there.
🦸♂️ Hometown Hero to the Rescue
Thankfully, not everyone at the Capitol is asleep at the wheel. Hometown Hero, a Texas-based hemp company with a heart the size of Houston, has been absolutely crushing it in the activism game.
They’ve rallied small businesses, patients, and veterans to testify, protest, and remind lawmakers that banning safe, tested products because they’re “too effective” is… well… dumb.
They’ve made it clear that HB 28 isn’t about safety—it’s about slicing the pie so the big guys get all the whipped cream.
🤠 Our Position: We’re Not Mad, Just Kidding, We’re Very Mad
At Nothing But Hemp, we’ve got one thing to say: HB 28 is what happens when regulatory logic takes a vacation.
Let’s review why we think this bill is a Texas-sized mistake:
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It’s a Love Letter to Big Business – Beverage exemption? More like VIP access for liquor empires.
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It Destroys the Backbone of the Industry – Sorry, small biz, we loved your hustle… until Big Beverage texted us back.
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It Pretends to Help Kids – But actually just helps drive sales underground.
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It Ignores Consumer Needs – Not everyone wants to sip their cannabinoids. Some of us like chewing them, okay?
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It’s Hypocrisy in Cowboy Boots – We thought Texas was about free enterprise, not “only if your beverage is sold at Specs.”
💥 What Can You Do (Besides Screaming into the Void)?
Here’s how you can help stop HB 28 from becoming the punchline of 2025:
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Call Your Legislator – Tell them you don’t support laws that benefit one industry while crushing another.
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Support Local Hemp Brands – The ones who didn’t spend millions on lobbyists but still show up to work every day.
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Use Your Voice – Share your hemp success story. Whether it helped your sleep, anxiety, or knee pain from 1993, people need to hear it.
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Join the Resistance – Follow Home Town Hero and other activists. Or heck, organize your own rally. We’ll bring snacks (non-infused, of course).
🤯 Final Thoughts From the Gummy Graveyard
If Texas passes HB 28, it won’t be because it’s good policy—it’ll be because the folks who actually understand this industry weren’t the ones writing the rules.
This bill is a warning: when you let big business write the script, small business becomes the punchline.
So here’s our final message to lawmakers: Put down the corporate kool-aid and pick up a clue. Texas deserves better than a “ban for thee but not for me” approach to regulation. If you really want to protect consumers, support the entire hemp industry—not just the folks with the fanciest bar setups.
And to everyone else: keep your gummies close and your legislators closer. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
🚨 Hashtags for the Movement
#StopHB28
#SaveTexasHemp
