💸 The Tape

Texas is once again serving up political theater with a twist of cannabis reform.

In a dramatic move that might’ve earned a standing ovation on Broadway, Texas House Democrats have left the state to block a redistricting vote that could tilt congressional maps in Republicans’ favor. But in doing so, they’ve also accidentally thrown a wrench into a controversial Senate-passed bill to ban hemp products containing any amount of THC.

Without a quorum, the Texas House can’t conduct business, leaving Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s prized hemp crackdown hanging in legislative limbo. The special session ends August 20, and unless lawmakers are dragged back by force or persuasion, the ban is going nowhere fast—at least for now.

Governor Greg Abbott (R), clearly not amused, has floated the possibility of fines, arrests, or even felony bribery charges for legislators who accepted “financial support” to flee the scene. In classic Abbott fashion, he’s also threatened another special session if this one dies without movement.

The hemp ban, which would outlaw any consumable hemp products containing THC or cannabinoids other than CBD and CBG, has faced heavy criticism from advocates and businesses alike. Under the bill, even possessing a hemp gummy could result in a Class B misdemeanor—180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. That’s a steep price for a Delta-8 chill sesh.

“This delay is good news,” said Hometown Hero ATX, a Texas-based CBD company. “The bad news? We’ll probably be back in special session soon.”

Lt. Gov. Patrick, the architect of the ban, has been pushing for a hemp product purge since late 2024. But opponents—including Sen. Rand Paul on the federal level and cannabis industry groups across Texas—say the focus should be on smart regulations to limit youth access, not a sweeping prohibition.

In a parallel universe of sanity, Democratic senators recently introduced two bills: one to regulate hemp products (limiting them to 5mg THC per serving), and another to legalize adult-use cannabis, allowing modest home grows and removing criminal penalties for personal possession.

Whether these bills move forward depends on when—or if—Democratic lawmakers return to the state, and whether Republicans are willing to compromise. For now, hemp THC products are safe, and Texas continues to operate in its trademark style: part rodeo, part rollercoaster.

📈 Dog Walkers

$VFF ( ▲ 3.55% ) Expands Delta BC Footprint

What’s Going On Here: Village Farms International (NASDAQ: VFF) is cranking up its cannabis production game with a major expansion of its Delta 2 greenhouse in British Columbia. The company’s board has greenlit a CAD $10 million project to convert the remaining 550,000 sq. ft. of the facility to cannabis cultivation, adding an estimated 40 metric tonnes of annual capacity. Conversion kicks off in November 2025, with the first planting slated for spring 2026 and full ramp-up expected by Q1 2027. The project will be funded entirely from cash on hand, with most spending concentrated in 2026.

Once complete, Village Farms will boast 2.2 million sq. ft. of cannabis production—up 33%—cementing its status as one of the largest global cannabis producers. The company also has an additional 2.6 million sq. ft. at its Delta 1 greenhouse ready to scale when demand calls for it.

CEO Michael A. DeGiglio emphasized the company’s “crawl, walk, run” approach, noting that global market conditions and Village Farms’ operational discipline are positioning the company for strong, profitable growth in 2026 and beyond.

$GLASF ( ▼ 0.85% ) Sets The Record Straight

What’s Going On Here: Glass House Brands (CBOE CA: GLAS.A.U / OTCQX: GLASF) issued a comprehensive update following federal immigration raids on two of its farms by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 10, 2025. The raids, reportedly one of the largest of their kind in California's cannabis industry, led to the detention or arrest of approximately 360 individuals for immigration violations. Only nine of those detained were confirmed Glass House employees; others were affiliated with third-party farm labor contractors or unassociated with the company.

Key developments:

• Minor involvement: Federal officials reported 11 detained minors aged 14–17. Glass House confirmed that none were its employees, noting all workers must be 21+ under cannabis regulations.

• Wages: The company emphasized compliance with wage laws, paying contractors an average of $18.60/hour—well above state and federal minimums.

• Fatality: A contractor, Jaime Alanis Garcia, died during the raid. Details remain limited.

• Reforms: Glass House terminated relationships with the two implicated labor contractors, revamped its agreements, mandated E-Verify for all workers, and implemented stricter compliance controls with the help of Guidepost Solutions.

• Labor peace: The company signed a Labor Peace Agreement with the Teamsters to support union engagement.

Glass House emphasized its commitment to lawful employment, worker safety, and regulatory compliance in the wake of the incident.

🗞️ The News

📺 YouTube

Senator Sharif Street: The Fight for Legal Cannabis in Pennsylvania | TTB Powered by Dutchie

What we will cover:

✅ Pennsylvania may be on the verge of legalizing adult-use cannabis — but major obstacles remain in the state Senate. In this episode, we sit down with Senator Sharif Street, one of the key architects behind Senate Bill 120, to break down what’s really happening behind the scenes.

Street, along with Republican Senator Dan Laughlin, has introduced a bipartisan bill that would legalize cannabis through a private retail model — not the state-run system passed by the House. It includes home grow, expungement, small business licensing, and revenue reinvestment in communities hit hardest by prohibition.

But Senate GOP leadership, led by Majority Leader Joe Pittman, says there’s “no clear path” for legalization. Governor Josh Shapiro included cannabis revenue in his 2025–26 budget, but has stayed quiet since. So what happens next?