Recently I attended the Texas Hemp Classic in Austin, Texas. This event kickstarted the first of many cannabis events throughout the state, where companies are flocking for a stake in the hemp industry. I have participated in many cannabis cups in the past, either as a judge or as an attendee, and have always enjoyed them as a way to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
This Cup in particular was timed perfectly within the first few weeks of the Texas Legislature meeting, where the cannabis industry in Texas is up for a huge debate. Heather Fazio, Director of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center, addressed the crowd at the beginning of the event with an update.
“The Texas cannabis industry is facing its most consequential legislative session since the legalization of hemp in 2019. In the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has prioritized banning all THC products, except those available through the compassionate use (i.e. medical) programs.”
Fazio went on to say that banning THC products in the $8 Billion dollar industry “would devastate small business owners and their employees, driving consumers to the illicit market, where products are unregulated, untested, and potentially unsafe.” In the interest of the people and safety, “we should focus on better regulation rather than outright prohibition of THC sales for responsible adult use,” said Fazio.
2025 Texas Hemp Classic in Austin
The Panel Discussions at the Texas Hemp Classic
Once the legislative update was finished, breakfast tacos were consumed while more panels and discussions took the stage. Hosted at the long-time comedy venue, Vulcan Gas Company, this platform was the perfect setting for experts on topics such as building a cannabis website, retail success in hemp, and growing tips.
The audience was able to ask questions and get information from top people in various cannabis industries all over the US and Canada, which was well received by farmers and business professionals alike. Right before a lunch break, Aaron Owens from Tejas Hemp talked about his experience cultivating cannabis in Texas around different cannabinoids, terpenes, and full spectrum CBD vs Delta 8.
For lunch we had an array of artisan sandwiches provided by 36General Catering out of San Marcos. I’m really kicking myself for not grabbing the pastrami sandwich, but my smoked chicken salad was delicious! During the break, eventgoers were treated to a sound bath and meditation, provided by Martindale Yoga and Wellness in the upstairs area.
Throughout the event, there were many different booths available, and I made sure to visit as many as possible to grab as many samples as I could! One of my favorite highlights of these were the new Grav glass tip cones. This genius idea blends the convenience of smoking your favorite flower in a pre-rolled cone with a fancy, reusable glass tip. I mean, who wouldn’t love that?
Another exciting addition to Grav’s line of products includes a cannabis spirit that can be added to any beverage. They were handing out samples of a coffee beverage made with their blend of CBD, THC, and terpenes and it was quite delicious. I ran off to tell my friend, Justin Hoegenauer, who had helped judge the entries for the Cup and found him trying samples of Howdy THC Beverages, so, of course, I had to try those too. Our favorite was the Sweet Tea version, which could easily be turned into an Arnold Palmer by blending it with their THC Lemonade.
After lunch, the panels started back up with a discussion on the topic of growing cannabis. Long-time cultivator Geremy Greens of Geremy Greens Farm, along with several other experts, all shared their trials of growing cannabis, as well as their best tips for success. From the growing aspect to the business side of hemp, the panels provided a thorough insight on what it takes to be in cannabis in Texas.
The panels followed with a happy hour, complete with cannabis mocktails and snacks, every stoner’s dream! I wandered up to the patio where a glassblower caught my eye. Jay Massey, a favorite glass artist among the smoke community, was busy crafting a trophy for the awards show later. It was beautiful to watch the glow of the flame melting the glass with a gorgeous Austin sunset behind him.
My friends and I gathered off to the side of the patio where someone was ushering us to share a well-crafted joint. They introduced themselves as Alex Hastings and Michael Macleod from Haze Connect, and we were smoking some of their Georgia Pie flower with a Motorbreath live badder core. The flavor popped with citrus and cream, a delicious combination! I was trying to slow my pace but wanted to try the other joint being passed around by Sean Latham of Doobie Blue Genetics.
The Texas Hemp Classic Awards Ceremony
We began to gather around for the awards ceremony at the main stage. I was proud of everyone who was up there accepting their awards, they are like family now, after being in the cannabis industry for the past 5 years. Axel Mercado, founder of Canna Comal, started learning about growing cannabis while studying botany at Colorado State University.
“Cannabis brings people together in a happy way. I saw it as a way to help my friends make some money for themselves,” said Mercado.
Before the end of the night, and the most magical moment of it all for me, I bought myself a new bong. I had been eyeing them for a while and finally made my way over to the booth to find out pricing and ask questions. The guy running the booth was a Tim Blake lookalike, and when I mentioned this to him he said, “Oh yeah I know Tim!” Of course he did, Tim knows everyone, and he is an OG in the cannabis community. He loaded up my chosen piece of glass with a christening of some of his tastiest buds and even found a fresh bottle of water so I could try it out. I passed it around to my friends standing nearby and thought, “This is what it’s about – bringing people together.” Community.
The entertainment continued with a live comedy show, which was a fantastic way to close out such an amazing day of festivities. Local favorite comedians such as Matt Alvarez and Johnny Mitchell were followed by the stellar Rachel Wolfson and Matt Edgar. Everyone had us in tears, we were laughing so hard! We ended the night feeling celebratory and lighter thanks to the good vibes and full-on laughter, something I think everyone could use right now.
Justin said, “Texas has a long history of agriculture, and we understand things just taste better when you know the farmer. My professional opinion is that high quality, sun grown, Emerald Triangle caliber flower is being grown right here in Texas!”
He’s absolutely right, and I think it’s high time we, as consumers, get to know the farmers who are growing our medicine. Finding your community is important in these times. They want to divide us in order to conquer us. Together we all stand a better chance of lifting each other up. I invite everyone to find their cannabis community, attend events and meet new friends, educate themselves on the plant, and maybe, just maybe… we really can change the world.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Texas Hemp Classic!
