Beaumont — Smoke shops across Southeast Texas are bracing for major changes as a new state law is set to make smokable hemp products illegal at the end of the month, forcing some retailers to pull a large share of their inventory from shelves.
Prerolls, blunts and hemp flower are among the products that must be removed from shelves March 31 under the new Texas hemp law.
Latricia Badgett, a certified CBD consultant, said the change came as a surprise.
“Honestly, I was pretty shocked. I’m very surprised at it and it’s really upsetting for so many reasons. But my initial reaction was definitely concern and shock,” Badgett said.
Southeast Texas CBD American Shaman has been selling tested and regulated hemp and THCA products for seven years. Badgett said the ban could have unintended consequences for consumers.
“It might force some people back to, turning to illegal ways to obtain what they need. And that won’t be regulated. That won’t be safe in the same ways that they can see that our products here are tested,” she said.
The owner of CBD American Shaman said flower products make up about a third of its business. Other smoke shops in Beaumont said smokable products account for about 50 percent of sales, raising concerns about whether some stores can stay open.
“And that’s unfair to a lot of small business owners especially who won’t be able to keep up with some of the new regulations,” Badgett said.
The law also increases licensing fees from $155 to $5,000 per location each year, an amount described as more than most alcohol licenses.
“That’s alarming. I know that it’s gonna impact a lot of small business owners in a really big way. That’s gonna push a lot of people out of the business, unfortunately. And so it’s really scary and it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me why it would jump so high so quickly,” Badgett said.
Even with the ban on smokable hemp, shops will still be able to sell edibles and THC drinks. But Badgett said the abrupt changes have left businesses uneasy.
“It definitely keeps people in a state of fear and in a state of panic where we’re meant to provide relief and safety. I think that we should be focused on safety and absolutely making sure to provide the best that we can to everyone but I don’t necessarily feel like that’s how we’re going about it,” she said.
Businesses can face fines and penalties if they are caught selling banned products in Texas.
A Texas hemp retailer, Boomtown Vapor LLC, has filed a lawsuit to block the new state regulations. Smoke shops are hoping the lawsuit will delay the ban on products starting next Tuesday.
