SAN ANTONIO – Local cannabis dispensaries have major concerns about a recent letter from the Drug Enforcement Administration related to the legal status of many of the products they sell; specifically, the legal status of THCA.
“THCA is a non-psychoactive compound found in raw cannabis plants that has been gaining attention for its potential therapeutic benefits,” responded San Antonio attorney Daniel Mehler in his own letter to the DEA on Wednesday. “However, due to its close relation to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, THCA’s legal status remains unclear. This has caused uncertainty and challenges for businesses and individuals in the cannabis industry. ”
The DEA now appears to indicate THCA doesn’t meet the definition of legal hemp, and dispensaries are worried that could put them out of business.
“Mehler Cannabis Law is calling on the DEA to provide a clear and definitive answer on the legal status of THCA extracted from lawful hemp under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA),” he continued in his letter. “The law firm believes that this clarification is necessary to ensure compliance and fair treatment for those involved in the cannabis industry in Texas and nationwide.”
You can find all things hemp at Casa de Mota, a family-run dispensary that opened two years ago along Grissom Rd. in San Antonio. Compliance with the law has been a top priority for them from the get-go.
“We’re a dispensary that’s focusing on CBD hemp-compliant products,” said owner Joe Diaz. “These are federally 2018 Farm Bill compliant products.”
Mehler, known to some as “the dopest lawyer in town,” primarily works cannabis and drug cases and has a Masters of Science in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. He maintains that as the industry continues to grow and evolve, “it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the legal framework surrounding all cannabis compounds.”