For the first time ever, marijuana is being grown legally in Texas, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
More than two years after Gov. Abbott signed a law legalizing the use of cannabis oil for the treatment of certain types of seizure disorder, mainly epilepsy, a company called Knox Medical has begun growing cannabis at a controlled farm near Schulenberg, which is between San Antonio and Houston. The land that is being farmed is owned by a group called Consortium Texas, which was the first firm ever receive a permit to legally grow marijuana in the state
."We passed the inspection on time, we continue moving forward on schedule," CEO Jose Hidalgo said. "It is very exciting and very rewarding, to say the least."
The law allows for the use of cannabis oil, which must have the THC, which is the chemical that creates the marijuana 'high' removed. The resulting product, called cannabidiol, is said to successfully treat several different types of seizures, particularly those caused by epilepsy.T
he 2015 session of the Texas Legislature approved the sale of the oil for specific types of treatment after hearing from parents of children who said they were being turned into 'medical refugees,' or criminals in their homes, because they were determined to provide every treatment possible for their children with epilepsy.
But efforts to expand on the cannabidoil legalization failed in the 2017 session, when lawmakers rejected efforts to legalize marijuana for medical purposes.
Abbott has said he will not sign any more laws that may come to his desk which would expand drug legalization.