“I’m going to prioritize the fentanyl before hemp, and every dollar I spend on testing drugs is a dollar I don’t have to spend on testing a sexual assault kit.”

By Stephen Simpson, The Texas Tribune

As Texas lawmakers debate whether to regulate or ban THC products, officials with the state’s crime labs say they don’t have the resources currently to enforce whatever law is passed.

“From a crime lab perspective, mercifully, we don’t have a dog in that fight. I really don’t care. Just tell me what I need to test, and then I need resources to be able to provide that result,” Peter Stout, president and chief executive officer for the Houston Forensic Science Center, told The Texas Tribune after he testified before the House Public Health Committee on Wednesday. “Otherwise, I become the reason the wheel falls off this wagon, which has basically been the last six years now.”

Wednesday’s committee hearing centered on House Bill 5, which would create a blanket ban on products containing any “detectable amount of any cannabinoid” other than cannabidiol and cannabigerol, better known as CBD and CBG, non-intoxicating components of cannabis. This bill would eliminate the majority of hemp products, including those that are legal under the federal definition.

”There’s been countless reports of artificial and synthetic cannabinoids and their effects on the consumer, and these products have become readily available,” said Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, the committee’s chair and HB 5’s author. “Some of these products are marketed in a way that is attractive to children, for example common food products, like candy.”

The Senate’s version of the bill also calls for a ban, but since Gov. Greg Abbott (R) earlier this year vetoed similar legislation that would have banned THC, some lawmakers have signaled they’d support more regulations over a ban.

Kim Carmichael, spokesperson for House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, told The Texas Tribune that the House hasn’t committed to a ban.

“HB 5 was filed as a similar bill to what the House passed in the regular session, because that’s the most logical starting point for negotiations,” Carmichael said. “Since it passed in that form, members believed they should resume debate where it ended up. It would still go through the process of a public hearing and floor debate, so where it ends up is unknown at this time.”

Experts invited by lawmakers on Wednesday to talk about THC largely focused on the health dangers of THC, the possible criminal networks that underlie the industry, and the impossible task of enforcement.

Alice Amilhat, assistant chief of the crime laboratory division for the Texas Department of Public Safety, told lawmakers the DPS crime lab is equally overwhelmed with requests, and no matter what lawmakers decide, it will be an expensive process.

“I don’t have a financial statement for you, but if a ban goes through, the testing process will be easier, but the problem is we just don’t know if the caseload will increase as well,” she said. “We don’t know how many cases will come in, we don’t know how many seizures, we don’t know how much law enforcement will need our support.”

Crime labs in Texas have found themselves in a no-win situation on how to regulate THC. If a ban goes through, testing will be relatively easy because all crime labs need to determine is if there’s THC in the substance, but it will still mean more cases for them. Not banning, but regulating THC will also drive their caseloads up and the testing process can become more expensive and time-consuming if they have to spend time trying to detect permissible amounts of THC in substances. Both scenarios are unsustainable for crime labs, which are battling deadlier drugs, with the current resources they have.

“There are only 266 licensed drug chemists in the state,” Stout told lawmakers. “I’m paying attention to fentanyl, and when you guys get it figured out [with THC], then I will invest in equipment and other stuff for testing.”

Stout said crime labs across the state have backlogs on cases that reach hundreds to thousands deep, and compared to sexual assault and firearms cases, THC testing will be a lower priority.

“I’ve been pretty vocal that I’ve not made the investments to test hemp in Houston at the scale that we probably would need to, because I can’t keep up simply with the pills that have fentanyl,” he told the Tribune. “So yeah, I’m going to prioritize the fentanyl before hemp, and every dollar I spend on testing drugs is a dollar I don’t have to spend on testing a sexual assault kit.”

DPS handles about half of the forensic work in the state, and municipal, county, or regional labs handle the rest. Each has its source of funding that can be inconsistent, but none of it is enough, according to crime labs.

Stout said the average crime lab across the country gets around $600 in funding per case, when laboratories probably need $2,500 in funding per case to cover personnel, time, and equipment. He said that, beyond the money problem, the time-consuming nature of training is a concern, and there is no pool of licensed drug chemists waiting for a job.

“We have under-resourced forensic laboratories for so long, there is no pipeline or workforce,” he said. “The people aren’t there, and the money is not there.”

The ongoing challenges at crime labs have resulted in cases taking years to resolve. Crime labs have no control over their workload—whatever substance or case law enforcement decides to focus on will impact crime labs, whether they are ready for it or not.

“Okay, guys, you also need me to answer you on that sexual assault kit and that homicide, which ones do you want me to do first?” Stout said. “Because we can’t afford to do them all. Help me out here.”

Stout said crime labs need more money and time.

“And I get that is exactly the wrong answer, that nobody wants to hear. They want to give us a big pot of money and go on to other things, but it doesn’t work that way,” he said.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/13/texas-crime-labs-THC-hemp-ban-regulations/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

Photo courtesy of Kimzy Nanney.

What does it mean to you? So often, we forget that each of us sees the world through a unique lens. While we may share an experience, our exact perspective is ours alone.

Many of us discovered High Times during different chapters of our lives. For me, it started in childhood. I grew up reading the magazine, drawn to its bold voice and rebellious energy. It inspired me. It offered a sense of freedom—and more than anything, it reassured me that I wasn’t alone in believing this plant made life better. Whether cannabis helped us feel balanced, feel whole, or simply feel good, High Times was a beacon for those of us who saw it as more than just a vice.

Today, cannabis is often framed as a safer alternative to alcohol or tobacco. While that may be true, that narrative feels incomplete. For those of us who came up in the culture, the plant was never just about harm reduction. Our early experiences weren’t driven by taste, branding, or appearance. They were about how it made us feel.

We smoked what we could get our hands on. Brown buds with stems and seeds—sometimes green, sometimes dry and dusty, sometimes damp and moldy. The names were basic or nonexistent. We called it green, brown, dirt, chronic, bammer. No one was posting nug photos or comparing flavor profiles to candy. We were in it for the high, for the relief, and for the connection.

For me, cannabis was a constant. Before school, at lunch, after school. We masked the smell with gum, sprays, and excuses. Everyone around me smoked. My friends, the dealers, the heads at shows, the random adults who still had a foot in the underground. Often, people sold just to afford their own habit. The culture grew organically from the lifestyle. And while we were getting high, we were also medicating—whether we called it that or not.

Cannabis is the most diverse cultivated plant on the planet. No other species has been shaped and selected into as many distinct types. It’s an adaptogen, and our bodies are equipped with cannabinoid receptors that allow the plant to affect us in complex and deeply personal ways. This is part of what makes it so difficult for doctors to prescribe in a conventional sense. One cultivar might energize one person and sedate another. Some feel calm, others paranoid. Its effects are influenced by body chemistry, food, mood, stress, time of day—even the weather. It is not one-size-fits-all.

High Times helped us make sense of that variability in the plant and the culture around it. It was the most influential publication of my life. I still have my collection from the early 1990s, each issue stacked with care and reverence. The article that captivated me most growing up was the “Million Dollar Grow Room.” Years later, I was honored to be featured in the second edition of that same article. That moment of reflection and recognition remains one of the defining highlights of my career.

Over the years, I’ve built lasting friendships with former High Times editors, writers, and photographers. These were true believers who helped shape the voice of the movement. Now, a new generation carries that legacy forward. And it is not a light burden.

High Times is more than a brand. It is a cultural institution. It carries the stories of survivors, visionaries, and revolutionaries. From Jack Herer to Michael Kennedy—from legalization architects to counterculture icons like Steven Hager—the magazine has always served as a platform for voices pushing against the mainstream. And we can’t forget the countless unnamed contributors, those who submitted stories and photos without credit or compensation, simply for the love of the plant and the mission.

The groundwork has been laid. But the story is still being written. The cannabis industry continues to evolve, and with it, our responsibilities. We owe everything to those who came before us. This plant has traveled across continents, passed from hand to hand, seed to seed. In the past seventy years alone, we’ve witnessed an explosion of cross selection and hybridization unlike anything else in agriculture.

High Times was a catalyst throughout that process. From the 1970s through the later part of the 2010s, it helped shape what the cannabis community would become. Much of what we see now in newer publications and across social media can be traced back to the culture that High Times helped nurture and protect.

I’m an optimist. I believe the best chapters are still ahead. The High Times name still matters. It still carries weight. It still represents something sacred. And if stewarded with care, it can continue to be a voice for the culture and a champion of the plant. The impact the brand has already made is immeasurable—but its potential is even greater. Our passion is real. Our connection is deep. And we are fortunate to be part of something larger than ourselves—part of a movement, part of a legacy, part of a plant that makes the world better, one person at a time.

This article is from an external, unpaid contributor. It does not represent High Times’ reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy. 

In just a few short years, Revelry NYC has become the cannabis event where New York’s culture, commerce, and community converge. This year, it’s taking over Pier 36 in Manhattan on September 12–13, 2025, and according to co-founder Lulu Tsui, it’s bigger, more inclusive, and more dialed-in than ever.

As the Chief Experience Officer for On The Revel, Tsui has spent years designing events that bridge the gap between New York’s rapidly evolving cannabis industry and the community that sustains it.

“We create spaces, trade shows, events, and industry nights specifically for the cannabis industry,” Tsui told me. “To gather good people who are working in the industry, interested in the industry, and who want to support the community.”

Lulu’s story starts far from the Manhattan waterfront. Her family immigrated from northern China to Eugene, Oregon, in the late 1970s, a place she describes as “a little hippie college town that hasn’t changed since the ’60s.”

The people who helped her family adjust to life in America were cannabis growers and distributors. “I was just raised by aunties and uncles that had a very different viewpoint towards cannabis and psychedelics,” she said. This was in stark contrast to her “super hardcore communist dragon” parents, who, like many Chinese immigrants, were hesitant and still saw cannabis simply as “drugs.”

That early exposure shaped her belief that “community and how you talk about it, how you work with it, can change hearts and minds in such a huge way.”

Her first cannabis experience came at 13, facilitated by her aunt, followed by an equally intentional introduction to psychedelics from her uncle. “It’s not a taboo thing. It’s not a scary thing. It’s a healing thing.”

Photo: Angie Vasquez

Designing Experiences Like No One Else

Tsui and her co-founder, Jacobi Holland, approach event production like UX designers. “We’re the most annoying group to work with because we talk through the flow for every interaction,” she laughed. “From sponsors and exhibitors to attendees and speakers, we design based on what people need.”

They also have the rare advantage of having worked as operators themselves, Tsui in the Washington State market, Holland in Colorado, bringing firsthand understanding to every decision. “Would you have a shoe designer design a shoe if they’ve never worn shoes before?” she asked. “We know the challenges operators face.”

The team behind Revelry reads like a cross-disciplinary dream roster:

• Jason Starr, a human rights lawyer and co-author of New York’s MRTA legalization bill.
• Peter Marcato, neuroscientist and head of community and content.
• Gerald Dean, a veteran of sales and trade show production.
• Saki Fenderson, producer, activist, and longtime community organizer.
• Delilah Ware is, fresh graduate of LIM College’s Cannabis Program.

Photo: Erica Harris

For Tsui, diversity goes beyond surface appearances. “Diversity is your personal background, education, life story, religion, all of those things. We have multi-dimensional humans who all believe in being of service.”

From a Gym Basement to Pier 36

Revelry’s first trade show took place in early 2023 in the basement of a gym. Even then, the formula clicked: 60 exhibitors, 44 of the state’s 60 licensed dispensaries, and a lot of handshakes.

Now, with their sixth trade show approaching, the scale has exploded. This year’s Buyers’ Club will feature 200+ legal New York cannabis brands and over 400 retailers.

“We’re calling it the New York Hunger Games,” Tsui joked. “There’s always chaos in the headlines, but what we’re trying to do is highlight the people who are still pushing forward as best as they can.”

A Lineup as Bold as the City Itself

This year’s Revelry Festival stage is stacked with talent that embodies New York’s unmatched cultural energy. Black Thought brings lyrical mastery, while Angel & Dren infuse the waterfront with their genre-bending DJ sets. Phony Ppl will deliver their signature blend of soul, R&B, and hip-hop, joined by the culinary creativity of Chef Nikki and the Latin-inspired sounds of Dos Flakos. Scottie Beam takes the mic for a keynote conversation, and Eagle Witt brings the laughs with his sharp comedic edge.

It’s a lineup that reflects exactly what Revelry stands for: the seamless blend of serious industry connections with the art, music, and flavor that make New York a global icon.

Building on the success of May 2025’s Buyers’ Club, which drew 1,800+ attendees and connected 300+ buyers with 160+ brands, this September’s festival is set to further cement New York’s role as a cannabis powerhouse.

Two Days, Two Experiences

Day 1 – Friday, Sept. 12: Industry-Only Buyers’ Club

This is all about business. “Ninety percent of our attendees are buyers,” Tsui explained. “You’re talking to the decision makers who can give you a purchase order or become a hot lead.”

Day 2 – Saturday, Sept. 13: Revelry Festival

When the doors open to the public, the vibe shifts from trade show floor to full-blown cultural celebration. Music, food, live art, and consumer education panels set the tone for a uniquely New York experience.

This year’s programming includes:

• Consumer Education & “Keeping It Real” Brand-Building panels
• OG New York Legacy Strain Stories
• A Psychedelics Panel previewing On The Revel’s January psychedelic conference
• Keynote interviews with Scotty Beam and Black Thought
• Live performances from Phony Ppl, Angel + Dren, Dos Blacos, and more surprise guests

And yes, Tsui is trying to bring in roller disco.

Navigating Stigma and Winning Over Venues

Landing a venue like Pier 36 is not as simple as signing a contract and mailing in a deposit. For Tsui and her team, it can be a year-long process of building trust, answering concerns, and proving that a large-scale cannabis event can run as smoothly and as safely as any other major cultural gathering in New York City.

“It usually takes me and the team a year to get sign-off for a festival this large,” Tsui said. While sales managers at potential venues are often excited about the idea, the final decision-makers can be more cautious. “We’re still dealing with that stigma, what about the children, there’s going to be crime, all of those misconceptions,” she explained.

Overcoming that hesitation requires more than just promises. Revelry leans on a proven track record: years of hosting high-profile, incident-free events, maintaining clear communication with venue partners, and leaving every location in better condition than they found. This level of professionalism has not only earned them repeat invitations but also allowed them to secure spaces that are rarely, if ever, used for cannabis-related gatherings.

By combining transparency, meticulous planning, and genuine respect for their hosts, Tsui and her team are showing New York and the rest of the country that cannabis culture can be celebrated openly, responsibly, and with the same level of polish as any top-tier music festival or industry convention.

New York Cannabis Culture: Quiet but Powerful

Unlike California, where cannabis can be a loud part of personal identity, Tsui says most New Yorkers consume quietly. “Everybody I know consumes weed, they’re just not loud about it. It’s part of their creative process, their hiking trip, their meditation, their breathwork.”

Part of Revelry Festival’s mission is to grow the “addressable consumer market” by making cannabis as integrated into lifestyle culture as food, music, and art.

Not Just Another Trade Show

Trade show fatigue is real, but Tsui believes Revelry thrives because it’s more than a convention center with booths. “We don’t see things as transactions. We’re very rich in culture, community, and industry currency.”

Her team listens closely to feedback after every event and experiments with new ideas, even if they might fail. “Most of the time it hits. Sometimes it doesn’t. But no one’s pointing fingers.”

This openness to iteration keeps the event fresh, and the mix of business-first focus on Day 1 and community celebration on Day 2 ensures that both sides of the industry get value.

The Bigger Picture

Tsui envisions a future where cannabis events in New York are as culturally embedded as art fairs and music festivals. “Let’s do what New York does best with culture. Let’s bring the food. Let’s bring music. Let’s bring good vibes. Let’s bring cannabis.”

By carefully curating both the brands that exhibit and the audience that attends, Revelry NYC has become a trusted platform for genuine connection between legacy and legal operators, between industry insiders and consumers, and between cannabis and the broader cultural fabric of the city.

Revelry NYC 2025 At a Glance

Location: Pier 36, Manhattan

Dates:

• Friday, Sept. 12 – Industry-only Buyers’ Club (Brands, Cultivators, Processors, Retailers, Microbusinesses, Licensed Operators)
• Saturday, Sept. 13 – 21+ Public Revelry Festival

Highlights:

• 200+ Legal NY Cannabis Brands
• 400+ Retailers & Buyers
• Consumer Education & Brand Panels
• OG Legacy Strain Stories & Psychedelics Discussions
• Live Performances & Surprise Guests

As I wrapped up our conversation, Tsui reminded me:

“We’re just trying to create spaces for people to gather, and I think we’re pretty good at it.”

For anyone invested in the future of New York cannabis, whether you’re a brand, buyer, advocate, or consumer, Revelry NYC isn’t just another date on the calendar. It’s where the state’s cannabis culture comes to life.