DSHS Public Comment Texas: Denton Call to Action for Hemp Stakeholders. ❄️ ICE Won't Stop Us ❄️
- Rhiannon Yard, MBA
- Jan 13
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 19
DSHS Rulemaking. Public Comment. The National Ripple Effect.
Texas is not operating in isolation.
What happens in Texas right now, particularly through the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) rulemaking process, is being watched closely by regulators, legislators, courts, and industry leaders across the country.
Texas has one of the largest hemp markets in the United States. Its decisions don’t just affect local businesses; they influence how hemp is interpreted, regulated, and enforced at the federal level and in other states.
That is why participation during the DSHS open comment period matters.
And that is why CRAFT is hosting an open Cannabis Policy Forum in Denton on Friday, January 23.
DSHS Rulemaking Is Where Policy Becomes Reality
Legislation sets the framework, but rulemaking determines how laws are applied.
The current DSHS rules will directly impact:
Product availability
Retail operations
Manufacturing standards
Consumer access
Enforcement discretion
Once finalized, these rules become the operational reality for the industry.
Public comments submitted during this period are not symbolic. They are a required part of the administrative process and become part of the official record, a record that is referenced in:
Enforcement guidance
Legislative review
Judicial challenges
Federal oversight discussions
Why Texas Is the Pulse of the Industry
Texas is uniquely positioned.
With its size, economic scale, and regulatory structure, Texas often functions as a testing ground for national policy direction. How Texas agencies interpret hemp law informs conversations far beyond state borders.
Federal stakeholders pay attention to:
How states define compliance
How agencies enforce rules
How industries respond, or fail to respond
Silence from Texas operators does not go unnoticed.
Why This Forum Exists
The Denton Cannabis Policy Forum is designed to help stakeholders participate effectively and responsibly during this critical moment.
The forum will provide:
Plain-language discussion of the DSHS rules
Context around the open comment period
Space for stakeholders to share real-world impacts
A letter-writing and signing session to submit informed, documented comments
This is not a protest.It is not a rally.It is not about politics.
It is about administrative participation.
Forum Details
Denton Cannabis Policy Forum Friday 7pm, January 23 Hosted by: Delta 8 Denton Location: 813 N. Locust St., Suite 103, Denton, TX
Who Should Be in the Room
This forum is open to all stakeholders impacted by Texas hemp policy, including:
Retailers and shop owners
Manufacturers and distributors
Employees and compliance professionals
Advocates and informed consumers
You do not need legal training.You do not need to speak publicly.
Written participation matters.
Why Participation Now Matters Nationally
What enters the DSHS administrative record today shapes:
How Texas rules are defended or challenged
How federal agencies assess state compliance frameworks
How future legislation is drafted
Texas has the opportunity, and responsibility, to demonstrate what informed, professional participation looks like.
A Responsible Moment for the Industry
CRAFT exists to support clarity, standards, and structured engagement.
The Denton Cannabis Policy Forum reflects that mission by creating a space for informed dialogue, documented participation, and collective responsibility, at a moment when Texas is setting the tone for the rest of the country.
When Texas speaks clearly, the industry listens.
Comments