Tag: CBD

American Weed: The Fight for Legalization and Cannabis Choice

Written by Stone Slade on July 15, 2025. Posted in Legislative.

You’d think legalizing a plant would mean the fight is over. But for hemp, the real battle is just
beginning. You’ve probably heard the buzz about cannabis legalization. The headlines paint a rosy picture:
billion-dollar markets, job creation, legal status spreading state by state. On the surface, things
look promising. But behind the headlines, another story is unfolding. If you work in or rely on the hemp industry,
you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Right now, the federally legal hemp market is under systematic attack. This isn’t random or
coincidental. It’s strategic. State by state, bill by bill, hemp products are being regulated out of
existence, even though the federal government explicitly allowed their growth under the 2018
Farm Bill. Texas, predictably, is once again at the epicenter of this battle.

A Legal Industry, Slowly Bled Out
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp federally, provided it contained less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC.
Anything above that threshold remains federally illegal cannabis.
Here’s the kicker: hemp and cannabis are scientifically the same plant, Cannabis sativa L.,
separated only by that thin chemical distinction. This seemingly minor difference set two
industries on a collision course. It opened doors for hemp-derived cannabinoids like CBD,
Delta-9, Delta-8, Delta-10, and HHC. These products, extracted legally from hemp, bypassed the
restrictive regulations surrounding cannabis, spawning a booming alternative market.
Suddenly, consumers across non-legalized states had access to THC products without
dispensaries, inflated costs, or burdensome registrations. Wellness stores across Texas flourished,
offering Delta-8 gummies and other cannabinoid products. Farmers swapped cotton fields for
hemp, small businesses thrived, and consumers enjoyed unprecedented accessibility.
Unsurprisingly, this rapid growth did not sit well with everyone, especially the large multi-state
cannabis operators, alcohol distributors, and special interest groups accustomed to dominating
the market.

When the Lobbyists Show Up
Quickly recognizing hemp’s competitive threat, established cannabis interests mobilized
lobbyists to protect their market share. Their message was simple yet misleading: hemp is
unregulated, unsafe, and poses a public health threat.

In reality, this was never about public health. It was purely about profit margins. New bills
emerged, targeting Delta-8, Delta-10, and other cannabinoids. Suddenly, testing standards
skyrocketed, permits became costly, and regulations grew more restrictive. Step by step, states
dismantled the hemp market they once proudly supported.

Texas: The Tip of the Spear
Nowhere is this shift clearer than Texas, where SB 3 was passed by both chambers in late May
2025 and sent to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk. The bill would have banned virtually every
hemp-derived cannabinoid currently on the market.

But in a surprising move, Abbott vetoed SB 3.
His decision followed massive public pressure: over 100,000 petition signatures, 5,000 letters,
and impassioned testimonies from veterans, farmers, and medical users. Advocates, like crash
survivor Elizabeth Meigs, emphasized how hemp-derived products changed their lives for the
better, underscoring the potential job losses and access issues a ban would cause.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had aggressively pushed for Abbott to sign the bill, framing hemp-derived
THC as a dire public health threat. He continues to ignore data and the experiences of countless
Texans who rely on these products. Abbott, for his part, cited the bill’s overreach and impact on
legal businesses as part of his reasoning.

What’s truly driving this urgency? Powerful lobbyists and industry groups want to shoehorn
hemp products into the outdated alcohol distribution model. That means higher costs, reduced
availability, and a system favoring only the largest operators. One such group, the Coalition for
Adult Beverage Alternatives (C.A.B.A.), which includes beverage giants like Tilray, Keef
Brands, and Wynk, isn’t pushing for an outright hemp ban. Instead, they want regulations that
eliminate small, local competitors.

Beyond Texas: Nationwide Restrictions
Texas isn’t alone. Nationwide, states are rapidly targeting hemp-derived cannabinoids:
• Utah, Nevada, and New Hampshire have enacted strict 0.3% total THC limits, applying
this restriction to all cannabinoids, not just Delta-9 THC.
• Colorado, Iowa, and Minnesota have imposed per-serving THC potency limits,
effectively neutering hemp products’ appeal.
• South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming have banned all isomerized cannabinoids,
allowing only naturally derived Delta-9 THC under the 0.3% threshold.
• Tennessee has introduced costly permits and excessive testing fees that favor large
corporate interests.
• Kentucky finds Delta-8 wrapped up in lawsuits and political gridlock, while Alabama and
Mississippi have banned hemp-derived THC entirely.

Overall, 32 states now impose some form of restrictive regulation on intoxicating hemp products.
This wave of legislative actions isn’t accidental. It’s coordinated, systematically dismantling
small businesses and the innovative markets they created.
The federal government’s failure to anticipate the explosive growth of novel cannabinoids
created this vacuum. It’s now being filled by lobbyists and influential interest groups.

Meanwhile, In Washington
As states act decisively, federal cannabis policy stagnates. Cannabis remains a Schedule I
substance federally, blocking banking access, sensible taxation, and standard regulations.
Agencies capable of intervention remain silent, leaving the industry vulnerable to lobbyists and
political influence.
Worse yet, the latest House Appropriations Committee draft proposes extending the 0.3% THC
cap to all cannabinoids. This would effectively seal the legal loophole that allowed hemp
products to flourish. It would devastate the federally legal hemp businesses that trusted and

operated within existing frameworks, essentially punishing compliance with shifting rules mid-
game.

What’s Really at Stake
Allowing these bans to continue will inevitably consolidate power in the hands of those who
historically fought against cannabis legalization. The hemp market, once vibrant with innovation,
local economic growth, and accessible wellness products, risks being wiped out entirely.
Every new state-level restriction represents a victory, not for safety or regulation, but for
entrenched corporate interests. And if these interests succeed, the core foundation of the modern
cannabis movement, innovation, accessibility and local economies will all vanish.
This isn’t merely about hemp products. It’s about who controls the cannabis industry. It’s about
ensuring adult consumers can make informed choices without interference from powerful
lobbyists or artificially restrictive regulations.
If Americans can responsibly handle opioids, alcohol, and firearms, surely they can manage a
plant.

What’s Next?
The immediate fire may be out in Texas for now, but the threat remains.
Governor Abbott’s veto of SB 3 was a critical win, but it’s not the end. Lawmakers are already
gearing up for a special session to try and work out a new version of the bill. You can bet the
same lobbyists and interest groups will be back at the table, pushing to reintroduce restrictions
under the guise of compromise. If anything, the battle is about to shift into overtime.
Going forward, advocacy must emphasize sensible regulation. Age verification, clear labeling,
potency standards, not outright bans. A unified voice must demand federal clarity through the
next Farm Bill, protecting the hemp industry and its consumers from future legislative overreach.

It’s time to defend the promise of the Farm Bill, support local economies, protect consumer
choice, and recognize that cannabis, whether hemp-derived or otherwise, remains fundamentally
a personal choice. If we fail to act now, we risk losing the cannabis revolution not to regulation, but to a handful of
powerful interests intent on monopolizing this growing market.

‘CBD Gave Me My Life Back’

Written by Rachel Nelson on October 8, 2024. Posted in Health.

Inspirational Speaker Elizabeth Meigs Thrives Post-Brain Injury

Elizabeth Meigs said she didn’t know what cannabidiol (CBD) oil was in 2019, but a friend’s Facebook post piqued her interest.

“One of my friends had cystic fibrosis, and she doesn’t like to get on elevators because she’s claustrophobic,” Meigs said. “She had to walk up five flights of stairs to get to her doctor’s office, but after using CBD oil, she said she wasn’t out of breath.”

In 2000, at the age of 14, Meigs suffered a life-altering accident that left her with brain damage. After seeing how her friend benefitted from CBD oil, Meigs began researching the benefits it might offer for people who have suffered strokes and brain injuries.

Although she notes that CBD oil is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, Miegs said many things in her life began to improve after she started using a CBD tincture. In addition to being packed with antioxidants, it wasn’t long before she noticed hemp off benefits for:

Sleep. Before CBD, Meigs had trouble sleeping for 19 years. “I was lucky to get maybe two or three hours of unrestful sleep a night,” she said. “I was always taking prescriptions or over-the-counter sleep aids. Then, within two to three days of being on CBD oil, I was sleeping good all night long.”
Pain. Meigs has had five surgeries on her left foot. She first found pain relief with CBD-infused topicals. “Once the CBD oil got into my system and started working on inflammation in my body, I hardly needed anything topical on my foot,” she said.
Hormones. Because she suffers with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Meigs said her menstrual cycles were never regular without the use of birth control. Her periods were also heavy and painful. “After three months of being on CBD oil, I became more regular,” she said. “My periods were regular; they weren’t painful. The part of my brain that controls my hormones was damaged [in the accident]. I was 14, and I was having hot flashes, but within a month of taking CBD oil, I noticed a big improvement.”
Allergies. After her accident, Meigs said she suffered from year-round allergies. “After 30 days on CBD oil, I no longer needed my allergy medication,” she said.
Cholesterol. Because she has a family history of high cholesterol, Meigs was diagnosed with the condition at a young age. She was eventually put on medication to treat it but was able to discontinue her prescriptions after using CBD oil.
Muscle tone and spasms. Before discovering CBD oil, Meigs suffered from increased muscle tone that was treated with Botox. Additionally, muscle spasms required treatment with high-power muscle relaxers. “After two to three months of using CBD, I no longer require Botox injections, and I don’t even require all of the muscle relaxers I’m prescribed,” she said.

Because she was so impressed with how CBD oil improved her life, Meigs began sharing the inflammation-fighting, antioxidant-rich remedy with others and realized its benefits for anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and high blood pressure.

For example, Meigs said she coached a woman named Barbara who could not make a fist with her hands for more than four years. After one week of using CBD topical and sublingual products, she noticed improvements in pain and dexterity.

Meigs said, “After one month of the products, she looked up at me making a fist with both hands and saying, ‘Beth you are my angel. I never dreamed I’d be able to do my job with no pain and I am, thank you.'”

When it comes to hemp, Meigs said, “so many people don’t have the facts.”

“Many of the illnesses we suffer with today are a result of increased inflammation within our bodies,” Meigs said. “Our cows and chickens used to graze to hemp, so we used to get it through that in our diets. Every mammal has an endocannabinoid system. God created this plant and created us to require it. It’s how we can help regulate our bodies naturally. It helps regulate the source of the issue instead of putting a Band-Aid on it and just helping the symptoms.”

A life changed forever

Before her accident, Meigs gained success as a singer and songwriter.

“I had been singing and songwriting for half my life,” she said, adding that a teacher arranged a recording studio session for her during her eighth-grade year.

“I was going to move to Nashville to pursue a career in country music right after high school,” she said.

The day of her accident, Meigs said paramedics had to bring her back to life several times. For the next 24 to 48 hours, she clung to life. She pulled through but faced an extensive rehabilitation journey.

“Once I was back in school, that was the most difficult,” she said. “My friends came and visited me back in the hospital, but once back in school their lives went on, and I was an invisible nobody. That was devastating. I would come home from school and tell my parents that I wish I had died. One day, I found myself on my knees asking God why he did this to me.”

According to Meigs, she felt a voice in her heart saying, “I have a plan for you. You can’t stop. You have to keep going.”

“I knew at that moment God didn’t do this to me — this was a worldly circumstance. I knew he was going to pull me out of the darkness. I didn’t know how, and I didn’t know when, but I couldn’t give up.”

From there, Meigs said she went to bed with a grateful heart each night. She began singing and performing again. She acknowledged that her voice wasn’t what it was before, “but it was still beautiful,” she said.

“People would see the one thing I was good at on stage, and that was the only time people weren’t judging me. That’s why those passions that you have — those are so important to get you through the tough times.”

A mission to inspire

Meigs graduated high school with her class and earned an associate’s degree in occupational therapy.

When I walked into the first patient’s room who had a stroke, and when I told them my story, it gave them a lot of hope,” Meigs said. “Every single patient would hug me at the end and thank me and tell me they couldn’t have gotten through their situation without me. That’s when I saw the power behind my story.”

She subsequently moved to Waco and attended a two-day speaking seminar in Dallas, which reinforced what she felt was her life’s purpose — to start a business as an inspirational speaker and transformational coach. She soon found her place in a church with a Celebrate Recovery group where she received more confirmation that others could benefit from her story.

“I found community and made friends for the first time in 17 years,” she said. “I knew I was right where I needed to be.”

Fast-forward to 2024, and Meigs offers coaching services and teaching strategies she developed while recovering from her accident. She also fulfills public speaking engagements and coaches clients on CBD oil so they can get the best benefits.

Meigs also contributed a chapter to a recently published book titled “Women Who Lead: Inspirational Stories and Influence of Female Leaders.” Learn more about Meigs’ journey, and book her services at elizabethinspires.com.