19 June 13 - 19, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents seltzer comes with a QR code that links to a certificate of analysis (COA), a lab report with a breakout of cannabinoids. Imbibers can see the exact amount of THC and which variety (delta-8 or delta-9, for example) is in each can. They can also learn how much ar- senic, mercury, palladium and selenium are in each can, if so inclined. And just like the ABV (alcohol by volume) on a can of Shiner or bottle of vodka, the amount of THC is printed on the can (in addition to the QR code). Meggs also keeps the dose low in Howdy Seltzer. “We want people to be able to go to Spec’s or go to H-E-B or any retailer, that’s the goal,” Meggs says. “That’s where we’re try- ing to get to, and that’s where we see the big differences. And in order to do that, you’ve got to put out low-dose, responsible and ap- proachable products. And that’s what we’ve done.” The body absorbs THC more slowly when ingested versus when inhaled. So, how quickly will you get high from one can? There’s no single answer to that, but in terms of replacing your glass of red wine with a THC seltzer, Reagan Power, like all the producers we talked to, is adamant about starting slow. “For someone who’s never really cared for pot before, I would drink like a half of a seltzer and see how you feel,” Reagan says in the most mild-mannered mom voice. “Give it an hour or two. And if you’re like, ‘Oh, I don’t really feel anything,’ maybe have the other half. … Because you can always take more, but it’s a terrible feeling to have taken too much and then you’re stressed by this situation.” To Alcohol or Cannabis? Scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder studied imaging data that com- pared the effects of alcohol and marijuana on the brain. They found that alcohol con- sumption was linked to long-term changes to the structure of white and gray matter in the brain, but the use of marijuana seemed to have no significant long-term effects on brain structure. After the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported on the shift from alco- hol to marijuana, Dr. Godfrey Pearlson, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Yale University and author of the book Weed Science, joined NPR’s show All Things Con- sidered to break down the study. “So the joke among cannabis researchers is if marijuana is a gateway drug, it’s a gate- way to your refrigerator,” he said. While Dr. Pearlson has a good appreciation for the munchies, he told NPR that society has “done ourselves no favors through exagger- ating the dangers of recreational drugs of all types, including cannabis.” He acknowledges that some of the myths tied to cannabis are downright ridiculous (sterility and an inclination towards mass vi- olence), but there are real risks, albeit small compared to other drugs. Scott Detrow of NPR pressed Dr. Pearl- son for an answer: “Bottom line, this shift that we saw in this study, marijuana outpac- ing alcohol, seems like you’re saying it’s ac- tually a good thing for our brains and our health if you compare, directly compare the two, assuming both are used in moderation and safely?” Dr. Pearlson offers, “Yeah, I would argue that,” ending with a note that too much of anything is never good. The War on the Farm Bill So what could the problem be? Well, the man, of course. After the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill and the rise of the cannabis indus- try, some states are trying to get the wander- ing-but-not-lost horse back in the barn. The Farm Bill is reauthorized and amended every five years (in 2023 that pro- cess was extended to September 2024). This year, as lawmakers get set to tweak the bill, 21 state attorney generals have sent a letter to Congress calling attention to vagueness in the original hemp text, writ- ing that it has “led to the proliferation of in- toxicating hemp products” and “bad actors” who have exploited the bill’s origi- nal intentions. A loophole of sorts was created because the 2018 Farm Bill did not impose specific limitations on other forms of THC, like delta-8, which can also produce a high but is typically less potent than delta-9. It also oc- curs naturally in cannabis plants in tiny amounts, so delta-8 is created by chemical processes that convert CBD or delta-9 in un- regulated labs. Meggs at Bayou City welcomes more reg- ulation. And being transparent about what’s in his products is crucial, particularly for new customers. “Delta-9 is what is proscribed in the Farm Bill,” Meggs says. “It’s also what was passed in HB 1325. It’s the definition of hemp. … That is the only thing we make. That is the only thing we put in products. We don’t pro- duce delta-8 products. We don’t produce delta-10 products. We don’t do any of that. We use the law as it’s written, and we specif- ically produce the products as the law is written.” Also part of the problem, the AGs argue, is that some of the products on the market look like candy and have high potency levels with no regulation or oversight. The AGs want to see oversight at the state level. “We obviously don’t want excessively high milligram products in the market,” says Jeromy Sherman, chief business offi- cer and co-founder at Bayou City Hemp. “That’s not the right way to introduce these products. … Go to any place that has our products and we’ll have low-dose gummies and beverages, and that’s all we produce. That’s the game we’re playing. That’s the right way.” There are competing forces, however. Some legislators are looking to wipe hemp use off the map, even as the Drug Enforce- ment Administration recently moved to re- classify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Texas Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton sued five Texas cities after voters approved measures to decriminalize marijuana, and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is already plotting an out- right ban of delta-8 and delta-9 products during the 2025 legislative session. In late May, Illinois Republican Rep. Mary Miller proposed an amendment to the Farm Bill that would ban any level of THC in ingestible products. It passed out of committee and is headed to the House for debate. Whether it will pass and squash a $7 billion hemp industry has some a bit anxious. North Texas cannabis attorney Chelsie Spencer told the Observer that there’s con- cern, but it’s not time to hit the panic but- ton. “The Senate has incredibly strong sup- porters of the hemp industry,” Spencer wrote in an email, “including the original drafters of the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. I do expect to see regulations on intoxicat- ing hemp products, but not a complete prohibition.” Reagan says she and her husband keep an eye on things but don’t let the daily news bites fluster them. “We try and just keep our head down and do our thing and work within the rules that they present us,” Reagan says. She’s not ready to give up on Texas, say- ing “we’re planted here,” without even in- tending the pun. Christopher Durbin Partners Reagan and Colt Power hold their THC-infused seltzer product in a grow room. Dish from p18
