FAQ
Texas Cannabis Council: Advocating for healthy Texas cannabis businesses and their customers
FAQ
What is TCC?
TCC is an advocacy trade association organized as a non-profit corporation designed for 501(c)(4) tax status.
What does TCC do?
TCC enables cannabis businesses to pool resources to fund lobby activities at the Texas Legislature, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Department of State Health Services, and any other Texas state or local governmental entity. TCC also collects information and data about cannabis, its use, the industry, and the health and safety of its customers to serve as a reliable source of information to policy makers.
Is TCC a hemp or marijuana organization?
TCC is about the whole of the cannabis plant genus. “Hemp” and “marijuana” are legal definitions based on an arbitrary distinction of whether a given plant or product contains less or more than 0.3% THC. During the 2021 legislative session TCC advocate to improve and expand Texas’s medical cannabis program, make any needed changes to the hemp program, and guide the leadership to develop a healthy regulatory infrastructure for cannabis.
What are TCC’s values and goals?
TCC seeks to set standards for good business practices throughout the industry and advocate for a healthy regulatory scheme that: (1) treats cannabis like other crops and products unless there is a valid scientific or policy reason to treat it differently and (2) promotes the health and protects the safety of cannabis consumers and patients. TCC requires its members to pledge to uphold its standards for business practices that protect Texans.
How is TCC governed?
TCC’s governance is designed to give both small and large businesses a voice and provide each segment of the industry a board seat so that TCC will truly represent the industry as a whole. Once there are five members of any particular industry segment they can form a committee and vote an representative to the board. TCC’s bylaws include ethics provisions and an Ethics Committee to promote transparency and avoid internal conflicts of interest and a Policy Committee comprised of TCC lobbyists and any lobbyists its members hire directly to serve as a standing stake-holders group to discuss and make policy recommendations.
Who formed TCC?
TCC is the brainchild of a group of lawyers and lobbyists who helped craft and pass HB 1325, the Texas hemp legislation, who wanted to help small Texas cannabis business owners, like its founding board President, Sarah Kerver of 1937 Apothecary, protect themselves in the rule-making process and in future legislative sessions as well as coordinate the efforts of well-funded companies.
Who should join TCC?
Any business along the cannabis supply chain ⎯ whether for fiber of cannabinoid production ⎯ from farmers to processors, to retail; service providers to the supply chain such as testing labs, genetics and equipment suppliers; and professional service providers, such as attorneys, accountants, and bankers.
What do I get for joining TCC?
An organized voice in Austin, up-to-date information about the regulatory and legislative process, and compliance guidance. In addition, as it grows, TCC may add some sector-specific services.
What if I already have a lobbyist or want to hire one to represent my company’s individual interest?
TCC has a Policy Committee comprised of its own lobbyists and the lobbyists of its members to develop consensus on policy goals and coordinate efforts. In addition, TCC seeks to keep the cannabis lobby cooperative, cordial, and efficient. Infighting weakens political power, and TCC seeks to build a healthy political culture to avoid weakness going forward.
What does it cost?
Annual membership dues are based on the category of business and range from $500 for fiber farmers or small-scale cannabinoid farmers and individual service professionals to $10,000 for multi-state organizations or large companies (defined as more than $1 million in annual revenue). In addition, members may be asked to contribute to special projects on a voluntary basis.