Est. 1981
Vol.70 Issue 11
A p r il 1 5 - A p r il 2 2 , 2 0 2 5
THE PAISANO
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /PaisanoOnline
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Texas House debates banning THC products By Johnpaul Buwule Staff Writer
T
exas House Bill 28 seeks to ban tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, a psychoactive compound found in recreational cannabis products responsible for the “high” feeling. Although the bill bans THC from a majority of products, HB 28 grants a special exemption for medicinal products and drinks with a low THC concentration. In 2019, the Texas’s farm bill legalized a concentration of less than .3% of THC in Texas, with anything higher being categorized as marijuana. Since then, the hemp industry, an estimated $3$4 billion business, has sold products ranging from medical to recreational to consumers. On March 14, HB 28 was introduced, threatening the future profitability of the hemp industry in Texas. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, a proponent of the bill, argues that hemp producers have taken advantage of the 2019 farm bill and sold “life-threatening, unregulated forms of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to Texans, including children.” The bill not only constrains the usage of THC but also raises the age of consumption to 21 and older, requires in-state product testing of hemp and for hemp producers to register with the Department of Public Safety.
However, T exas lawmakers have already started raising concerns about the future of the industry and the viability of banning hemp for public health. Senator Jose Menendez states that “all [banning THC is] going to do is encourage the bad actors to fill the vacuum,” allowing for production and distribution of hemp to shift back into off-market exchanges. Lt. Gov. Patrick has pushed a similar bill in the Senate, Senate Bill 3, which passed with a 27-4 vote on March 19th. SB 3 is less lenient than HB 28 because the Senate bill seeks to ban all recreational forms of THC, including low-THC concentrated beverages. Just like HB 28, SB 3 allows for the exemption of medical products containing THC. Hemp business owner Katie Frazier, like many other producers, acknowledged that HB 28 offers muchneeded oversight but voiced her concern about the threat of hemp businesses being shut down because of the bill. “I want bad actors removed from this space, but you don’t clean up a room by setting it on fire,” Frazier explained in an article by the Texas Observer. “House Bill 28 may appear more reasonable [than SB 3], but it remains deeply harmful.” In March, the Texas Senate passed SB 3; however, HB 28 and SB 3 are still pending in the Texas House of Representatives.
House Bill 28 threatens distribution of cannabis plants grown by Sweet Sensi in Austin, Texas
Erick Henriquez Camargo/The Paisano
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San Antonio’s 2025 mayoral race has become one of the city’s most crowded in recent years, with 27 individuals gunning for the position. The final debate occurred on April 8 at the Carver Community Cultural Center. Eight candidates were invited to participate in a debate hosted and moderated by the San Antonio Report alongside San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. The candidates were selected based on local polling, fundraising data from 2024 and 2025 and major endorsements. The panel included City Council members Adriana Rocha Garcia (District 4), Melissa Cabello Havrda (District 6), Manny Pelaez (District 8),John Courage (District 9), former council member Clayton Perry (District 10), tech entrepreneur Beto Altamirano, former Air Force Under Secretary Gina Ortiz Jones and former Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos. Moderated by San Antonio Report Government and Politics Reporter Andrea Drusch, the 90-minute debate featured tense exchanges, particularly between candidates with City Hall experience and those new to the political scene. Council members defended their experience in city management, often questioning the readiness of their lessexperienced opponents. Cabello Havrda, Rocha Garcia, Pelaez and Courage emphasized their understanding of municipal operations and suggested that those without city experience should have first pursued smaller offices. In response, opponents accused incumbents of failing to adequately address long-standing issues, such as poverty, crime and housing affordability. Cabello Havrda took aim at her opponents, specifically Pelaez and others who she claimed lacked “real” experience. “What you’re going to hear from our friend named La Chancla,” she said, referencing Pelaez, “is that he spent
$300,000 with no money to buy your vote. Ms. Jones is going to tell you that there’s no time to waste, and I absolutely agree with you. There’s no time to waste on any candidate that doesn’t have city experience, that doesn’t know the first thing about running a city.” Courage added, “I’m here to convince you not to vote for somebody who shouldn’t be mayor,” reiterating a common theme from the incumbents. Top fundraisers in the race include Ortiz Jones, Altamirano, Pablos and Pelaez, who recently loaned his campaign $324,000 in time to appear on campaign finance reports. Ortiz Jones highlighted her leadership experience as Under Secretary of the Air Force. She assisted and oversaw the Air Force and Space Force while managing an annual budget of more than $173 billion. Altamirano, founder of the San Antonio-based tech startup Irys, cited his business background and early career in Democratic politics as preparation for leading strategic economic development in the city. Pablos, backed by a multimillion-dollar political action committee aligned with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, sparred with Pelaez over job creation. When Pelaez took credit for economic gains, Pablos responded that the governor’s office was responsible for bringing those jobs to San Antonio. Candidates without City Council experience pressed the incumbents on a lack of progress on housing, transportation and public health. Pablos called out persistent economic inequality, saying, “I think it’s time to address the elephant in the room, and that’s pervasive poverty, generational poverty, systemic poverty. Sixty years ago, the poverty rate in San Antonio was 18%. Today it’s 18% — nothing has changed. Broken promises. We haven’t moved the needle.” During a lightning round, candidates were asked to share their positions on the plan quickly. One of the night’s most controversial topics was Project Marvel, a proposed $4 billion downtown entertainment district in District 1
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By Kara Lee Graphic Editor
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Mayoral candidates clash in heated debate at Carver Community Cultural Center
that would relocate the San Antonio Spurs from the E a s t Side. Altamirano expressed support for the project but not with the use of public funds, a sentiment Cabello Havrda and Perry echoed. Cabello Havrda emphasized that the initiative must be community-led, while Perry opposed any use of taxpayer dollars. Rocha Garcia said she would support a publicprivate partnership, and Courage expressed support for the project’s original intent — improving the Alamodome, Hemisfair and the convention center. Pelaez expressed skepticism, stating, “I’m going to be a champion of neighborhoods. If this stadium doesn’t benefit every neighborhood in San Antonio, then I’m not going to support it. If it doesn’t help schools and child care and learning, I’m not going to support it.” Ortiz Jones said she is committed to getting more answers about the project, and Pablos reiterated his focus on uplifting neighborhoods citywide. Public safety was also a crucial topic, with Rocha Garcia, Cabello Havrda, Pelaez and Courage highlighting their records on crime reduction and plans to continue working with law enforcement. Political newcomers questioned whether existing policies were effective enough and raised concerns about public trust in policing. Most candidates agreed that the city must take more aggressive steps to address the affordability gap for housing. Proposals included revisiting zoning policies, creating more affordable housing units and implementing measures to prevent gentrification. As the campaign continues, voters can weigh experience against fresh perspectives and debate whether the city needs steady leadership or bold change. With high-stakes issues like crime, housing and Project Marvel at the forefront, San Antonio’s crowded mayoral race is far from settled.
Courtesy/SA Report
From left to right: Mayoral canidates Beto Altamirano, John Courage, Rolando Pablos, Manny Pelaez, Gina Ortiz Jones, Melissa Cabello Havrda, Clayton Perry, Adriana Rocha Garcia.