420 with CNW — Texas Veterans Want Medical Canna
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Veterans in Texas are fighting to defend the state’s hemp industry and push to expand its medical cannabis program during the state’s legislative meeting at the capitol. The vets and those who support them claim that they require access to delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, a hemp product, to treat conditions such as PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and chronic pain. Like marijuana, delta-8 THC is widely available in Texas and can induce euphoria.
It is distinct from the more popular commercial hemp substance known as cannabidiol (CBD), which can be found in a wide range of goods such as gummies, lotions and pet treats. Although CBD can make a user feel a little more at ease, it won’t give users the same high as delta-8 THC.
A majority of states, including Texas, legalized hemp production after federal regulations were changed in 2018 to remove hemp from the list of prohibited controlled substances. Hemp plants contain less THC, or the substance that gives the drug its high, than marijuana does.
However, Texas Senator Charles Perry wants the state to restrict access to delta-8 because of its psychoactive properties. He believes that hemp-based products with psychoactive effects are already prohibited. He has stated that he will not allow a renegade group in the industry to jeopardize that.
The reopened legislative debate occurs as several of the state’s cities struggle to decriminalize cannabis by prohibiting arrests. Even though 82% of Texas residents are in favor of legalizing cannabis for medical use, the state remains one of the 29 states that have yet to legalize the drug for recreational use.
The cannabis Compassionate Use Program in Texas, one of the most restrictive in the country, has a very small number of prescribing physicians and stringent eligibility requirements. It was created in 2015 to assist severe epilepsy patients. Less than 50% of the 36,651 Texas residents who had signed up for the program as of October last year were actually using the regular care and medication that the program provided.
Veteran-focused service organizations have actively aided in the growth of the program in the past. For instance, PTSD was added to the list of qualifying conditions in 2019 with the help of such organizations. Although the vets appreciate further expansion, they believe that the current hemp market, as opposed to the program, provides them with greater access to comparable and more affordable options such as delta-8 THC.
The medicinal potential of cannabis and its different compounds is attracting plenty of investor interest, and companies such as India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are focused on bringing innovative FDA-approved, THC-based therapeutics to the market.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC
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