Big Bend Real Estate Guide September 2020 | Page 20

Kevin Bishop made his own reusable pots from recycled plastic felt. Continued from page 11 Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of many cannabinoids present in the hemp plant, and newer hemp varieties are bred to increase the concentration of this medicinally valuable compound, lauded for anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, among other wellness benefits. Bishop is interested in growing CBDrich varieties, but has to be more careful with them, because, as CBD content rises, so does tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. Both marijuana and hemp are varieties of the same plant species, Cannabis sativa. However, hemp has a much lower concentration of THC, the compound that causes intoxicating effects. Hemp is legally (and some might add, arbitrarily) defined as having less than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis. In comparison, in states where marijuana is legal, the cannabis plant is bred to contain an average of 12% THC, with up to 20% not uncommon— that’s 40-60 times more than what is present in hemp. In states like Oklahoma where medical marijuana is legal, or Colorado, where medical and recreational use is legal, people seek high THC strains for the euphoric and pain-relieving effects. Yet any cannabis plant containing more than 0.3 percent THC is considered illegal at the federal level. Sound confusing? Well it is, especially to law enforcement, who have been among the biggest detractors on the road to legalizing hemp, because all cannabis plants look and smell remarkably similar, regardless of THC content. Regulatory agencies are still working out the details on how to manage this aspect of the industry, but Texas farmers forge on, under the recently created Hemp Program managed by Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1325 in June 2019, allowing for the production, manufacture, retail sale, and inspection of industrial hemp crops and products in the state, with administration of the program provided by TDA. Texas’s program was approved by the United State Department of Agriculture in January of this year, and TDA began accepting applications for licenses to grow hemp mid-March. Some states, like Arizona, got started as early as May of 2018. With limited infrastructure resources, Bishop is starting small. It’s most important for him to get his feet wet and just see what the process is like, from navigating the regulatory 20 Big Bend Real Estate Guide • September 2020