Tag: Texas

  • New Bill May Legalize Recreational Weed in Texas

    New Bill May Legalize Recreational Weed in Texas

    Texas may join several states in legalizing recreational marijuana if a bill is passed in the next legislative session.

    If passed, the bill would let adults ages 21 and older possess, use and transport marijuana for personal use, up to 2.5 ounces. Up to ten ounces of marijuana could be possessed legally if stored in a secure location.

    It would also require cannabis products to be clearly labeled and have child-resistant packaging, WFAA reports.

    State Rep. Jessica Gonzalez filed the bill in November, to be considered during the next legislative session. The next session runs from Jan. 5 to June 2, 2025. If the bill passes, it will go into effect Sept. 1, 2025.

    The bill would have limitations. Smoking marijuana in public would remain illegal, as would smoking in a vehicle on a public road.

    Texas would join 24 other states in legalizing recreational marijuana. The Lone Star State established a medical marijuana program through the Compassionate Use Program in 2015 and is among the 38 states that allow it for medical use.

    However, it’s unlikely that the new bill will be passed as Texas officials continue to tighten regulations on marijuana issues statewide.

  • Dallas City Council OKs Adding Vapes to Smoke Law

    Dallas City Council OKs Adding Vapes to Smoke Law

    Credit: Lucitanija

    The Dallas City Council in Texas approved adding vaping to its smoke-free ordinance Wednesday, restricting vaping and e-cigarettes in parks. The ordinance mirrors existing restrictions on smoking in specific areas, including all indoor and enclosed spaces, within 15 feet of building entrances, and on park property.

    The change also requires businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, and fitness centers, to update their signage to clearly state that both smoking and the use of electronic smoking devices are prohibited. The new ordinance, which takes effect Dec. 11, 2025, is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

    “This ordinance fortifies the City’s commitment to restrict vaping in public spaces after collaboration with our community partners and identifying the negative health effects of vaping aerosol exposure,” said Interim City Manager Kimberly Tolbert, as reported by media. “This is an exciting day because the approval of the ordinance closes an important regulatory gap and better protects the health of our residents from the negative effects of electronic smoking devices.”

    In March, the city council’s Parks Trails and the Environment committee requested that the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability and the Environmental Commission recommend updating the city’s smoke-free ordinance to include vaping.

  • Dallas, Texas to Consider ‘Public Places’ Vape Ban

    Dallas, Texas to Consider ‘Public Places’ Vape Ban

    Credit: Lucitanija

    According to a city council committee memo, Dallas is expected to consider restricting vaping in public spaces like parks next week.

    The Environmental Commission, a group appointed to advise the city council on environmental issues, recommended in May 2023 that the city restrict vaping in public spaces “after identifying the negative health effects of vaping aerosol exposure,” according to a city memo.

    The city council’s Parks Trails and the Environment committee requested in March that the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability and the Environmental Commission recommend updating the city’s smoke-free ordinance to include vaping.

    The full city council is expected to consider the issue on Dec. 11.

    “An outdoor park, as long as you’re being respectful of people and you’re keeping your distance and you’re not getting it in anyone’s face,” said Chris Self, owner of Trilogy Smoke, CBD & Vape Shop in Coppell. Self is a vape advocate who isn’t surprised by the possible rule change. He also says this won’t bother his clients who are used to being discrete anyway.

    WFAA reports that banning vaping in city parks would include all of Fair Park and likely during the State Fair of Texas. The media outlet said it had contacted the city’s Parks department for clarification on this to see if any ordinance change would also extend to the fair.

    “I know they can do a designation area, I know they have a designation area for smoking,” said Self.

  • San Antonio Adds Vapes to Smoking Ordinace

    San Antonio Adds Vapes to Smoking Ordinace

    Credit: Lucitanija

    The City of San Antonio, Texas, is banning the use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, where smoking is currently restricted. The revised ordinance will take effect on January 1, 2025, and will prohibit their use in all venues where smoking is currently restricted.

    Businesses must include the electronic smoking device icon on signs prohibiting smoking. The icons for both cigarettes and e-cigarettes should be enclosed in the standard red circle with a red bar across them, media reports. They will be required for every public place and place of employment where smoking is currently prohibited.

    “This update reflects our commitment as the community health strategist and ensures that policies remain relevant to current circumstances, adapt to technological changes, and mitigate potential risks,” said Dr. Claude A. Jacob, Metro Health director. “By reducing exposure to secondhand smoke and promoting smoke-free environments, we are taking significant steps to protect the health of our citizens.”

  • Texas Police ‘Traumatize’ Store Staff in Hemp Raids

    Texas Police ‘Traumatize’ Store Staff in Hemp Raids

    Credit: Ongala

    Police in Allen, Texas, secured up evidence and marched out business owners in handcuffs for selling what attorneys for the vape shops say are legal products. In a coordinated raid, police invaded nine locations simultaneously.

    Allen police chief Steve Dye told media that the stores involved, more than a third of the vape shops within Allen city limits, were all caught marketing and selling products with illegal levels of THC. The THC compound can be derived from marijuana and hemp (both members of the cannabis family).

    “We did multiple rounds of undercover operations, including sending minors in, and many of them were able to buy the THC underage. And then we started testing those products and we found that the vast majority of those products were well over the .3 percent,” he said.

    Early Wednesday morning, an attorney representing some of the vape shops in a federal lawsuit against the DEA called the raids “legally questionable.”

    “These local, family-owned businesses are operating legally. The Allen, Texas Police Department and the DEA overstepped their authority by destroying products, taking point-of-sale systems and records, and confiscating personal computers belonging to employees,” said David Sergi of San Marcos-based Sergi & Associates.

    Pictures provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which assisted with the raid, show a bag of chips labeled “Doweedos”, cookies labeled “Trips Ahoy” and candy labeled “Medicated Skittles.”

    “We’ve seen percentages of THC in the high teens, upwards of 60, 65 percent. That is almost toxic levels of THC when you think about it. And is that what somebody is expecting to get?” asked DEA Special Agent In Charge Eduardo Chavez.

    The raids left owners and employees “traumatized,” according to Sergi, who also represents the Allen Hemp Coalition as well as eight of the nine shop owners. “We think it’s absolutely horrendous,” he told a media oulet.

    Sergi said that when police sent a letter to businesses in May raising concerns, the stores voluntarily removed the products mentioned from their shelves. This time, he said, police chose a different approach.

    “Rather than getting guidance and partnership from the Allen Police Department, we have gotten arrested, we have had clients whose stores have been destroyed, we have employees whose computers have been taken,” he said.

    Sergi said that while there’s no law against selling hemp products to minors, many shops voluntarily choose not to.

    When asked about the attorney’s comments, a spokesperson for Allen police said the department tried working with store owners, offering to provide advice about which products might pose a problem. Not all, he said, took them up on it.

  • January 1: New Vape Retailer Rules in Texas Begin

    January 1: New Vape Retailer Rules in Texas Begin

    A Forever Vapes store in Pearland, TX, USA. (Credit: JHVEPhoto)

    Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, it will be a crime in Texas to market, advertise, sell or cause to be sold an e-cigarette product in certain containers that are designed to appeal to minors.

    “It is illegal to sale e-cigarettes to minors — these products are dangerous and most contain nicotine, heavy metals and cancer-causing materials — yet these products are intentionally designed to attract minors,” Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said. “Texas has taken action to deal with this kind of deceptive marketing and I greatly appreciate the partnership with retailers across this state to help us protect one of our most vital resources: our children.”

    House Bill 4758 states any person commits a Class B misdemeanor that can lead to civil and criminal penalties if they market, advertise, sell or cause to be sold an e-cigarette product and the product’s container meets any of the following criteria: 

    • depicts a cartoon-like fictional character that mimics a character primarily aimed at entertaining minors;
    • imitates or mimics trademarks or trade dress of products that are or have been primarily marketed to minors;
    • includes a symbol that is primarily used to market products to minors;
    • includes an image of a celebrity; or
    • includes an image that resembles a food product, including candy or juice.

    A violation can result in a Class B misdemeanor conviction punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a fine up to $2,000, or both. E-cigarette retailers also can face civil penalties up to $3,000 and a permit suspension or revocation for repeat violations.

    The Comptroller’s office and partnering agencies perform inspections for signage and employee compliance concerning the sale, possession and use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and tobacco products, according to a press release.

  • Texas: Group Wants Dallas to Enact Public Vape Ban

    Texas: Group Wants Dallas to Enact Public Vape Ban

    Credit: Lucitanija

    A citizen advisory group has recommended that the City of Dallas follow other major Texas cities with a ban on vaping in public spaces in the name of public health.

    The city’s Environmental Commission has recommended adopting a policy restricting the use of e-cigarettes, citing a “correlation between vaping aerosol exposure and negative health effects for vulnerable populations,” said Candace Thompson, chair of the commission’s environmental health committee.

    In August, the commission unanimously approved a recommendation to expand the city’s 2016 smoking ban to include the prohibition of vaping of nicotine and non-nicotine products in most public spaces, with a few exceptions, including bars, restaurants and parks controlled by private partners, according to the Dallas News.

    Dallas City Councilwoman Kathy Stewart, who chairs the parks, trails and environment committee, said she saw the recommendation in a memo. But her committee has not discussed nor voted on the proposed ban, which would be required before City Council action.

    Vaping was banned in Austin in 2017 and in Houston in 2022.

  • Ector County Jail Sells $19,000 in Vapes in One Month

    Ector County Jail Sells $19,000 in Vapes in One Month

    Credit: Ye Jinghan

    Authorities in Ector County, Texas started selling e-cigarettes to inmates at their Law Enforcement Center started on May 8th. Jail Captain James Mckinney started with 2,000 vapes. One costs about $14.

    “Regular, menthol, peach, ice peach and then berry. I ordered 400 of each and we were sold out last week,” said Mckinney.

    They were so popular, Mckinney just ordered 4,000 more, according to CBS7.

    In total they’ve made $19,476.50, profiting $11,776.50 on the e-cigarettes in just one month.

    “If you’re making money off the inmates it has to go back to benefit the inmates, whether it be the mattresses I buy for them, the clothes, sheets, anything that benefits them, basketballs,” said Mckinney.

    They’ve only had about 10 inmates alter the products out of the hundreds currently at the jail.

    “If they tamper with them we’ll take them away for 14 days, if they tamper again with them, we’ll take them away for 21 days, if they tamper a third time then we’ll take them away until we say they can get another one,” said Mckinney.

  • Ector County, Texas Approves Vapor Sales in Jails

    Ector County, Texas Approves Vapor Sales in Jails

    Credit: Lucitanija

    The Ector County Commissioners Court approved selling e-cigarettes to inmates at the Ector Law Enforcement Center..

    “Their correction grade, the inmate they’ve gotta barcode on it they will scan it the inmate has to give this particular unit back to get another one if it’s altered in any way they won’t get another one,” said Sheriff Mike Griffis, according to CBS7.

    All of the revenue will go towards the jail, at no expense to taxpayers, Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett says it will offset costs to keep the inmates locked up.

    “The supplies it takes to pay for the inmates, their beds, their pillows, all those types of things taxpayers are on foot for so we are certainly going to look to relieve all taxpayer items to the best of our ability,” said Fawcett.

    Griffis says their buying the e-cigarettes at $3.85 a piece selling them for around $14. They’ll start with 1,000 and see how it goes…

    “I hope we sell a bunch of them and make a lot of money. The vendor said y’all may make $1 million a year selling these,” said Griffis.

    One e-cigarette is equivalent to one pack of cigarettes.

    Fawcett says other counties have used this before, as the e-cigarettes act as a behavioral tool.

    “Whenever you have inmates who cooperate who are on good terms it helps with our jailing numbers, our staff when you have good inmates you don’t see as much turnover with staff,” said Fawcett.

    Griffis says the e-cigarettes are fairly indestructible, basic enough to hopefully not pose a safety threat.

  • Texas House Bill Would Ban Vaping at Colleges

    Texas House Bill Would Ban Vaping at Colleges

    Credit: C5Media

    A bill introduced in the Texas House of Representatives would ban the use of all tobacco and vaping products at colleges and universities in the state of Texas by Aug. 1, 2024.

    Rep. Suleman Lalani has introduced H.B. 3124, requiring “each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy prohibiting the use” of tobacco products and e-cigarettes by Aug. 1, 2024, according to Charlie Minato of Halfwheel.

    The bill received a public hearing Monday in the Texas House’s Higher Education Committee. It currently does not appear to have any additional sponsors.

    The five largest universities in the state all have some sort of tobacco-free policy on campus though some—Texas A&M and UT Arlington—are stricter than others like the University of Houston.