AUSTIN, Texas — Project Champion, a national coalition of former professional athletes advocating for cannabis reform, has joined forces with two leading hemp associations — the Hemp Industry Leaders of Texas, and the Texas Hemp Coalition — in a unified call for Governor Greg Abbott to veto the intoxicating hemp ban in front of him.
“This plant helped me stay balanced and healthy through the grind of professional football,” said Ricky Williams, former NFL running back, University of Texas legend, and cofounder of Project Champion. “Now it’s helping veterans manage PTSD and families manage pain. These changes in the law don’t protect Texans; it punishes them. The people of Texas deserve freedom of choice and don’t need the government to tell them what they can and can’t put in their body. If we have learned anything from the past decade it has been that.”
Williams posted a video to social media calling on Abbott to veto SB 3 and urged his friend Abbott to take action and stand up for patient access and veterans who rely on these products.
SB3 would criminalize hemp-derived THC products, including those legal under federal law. The bill threatens to dismantle Texas’s growing hemp industry, eliminate thousands of jobs, and strip veterans, patients, and everyday Texans of plant-based wellness alternatives, according to opponents.
Project Champion is uniting with the Texas hemp industry to protect what’s become a thriving, job-creating sector with 53,000 jobs now at risk. The coalition is issuing a joint call to action, with each leader reinforcing the urgent need for Abbott to reject what they call misguided legislation.
Eddie Velez, President, Texas Hemp Coalition: “SB 3 is a direct attack on Texas small businesses and farmers who built a safe, legal industry. A THC ban would devastate our operations, from cultivation to retail, and ripple through local economies. We don’t want bans. We want commonsense regulations like age limits and responsible use education. Work with us, not against us.”
Nick Mortillaro, founder , Hemp Industry Leaders of Texas: “This legislation would wipe out hundreds of Texas companies, many of them family-run. The economic damage would be catastrophic. The illicit market and the cartels will fill the vacuum. We urge Governor Abbott to listen to business owners, veterans, and patients, not fear-based politics.”
The proposed ban would eliminate access to plant-based products used by countless Texans to manage pain, anxiety, and chronic illnesses, including many veterans, the organizations said.
“Prohibition doesn’t protect people; it puts them in danger,” Williams said. “We’ve seen this story play out before. When you take legal, regulated products off the shelves, people don’t stop using them. They lose access to safety, transparency, and accountability. That’s when the illicit market steps in, and Texans pay the price. Veterans, patients, small business owners — they all lose. It’s a fumble Texas can’t afford. We can build a model for smart, compassionate policy, or we can go backward and cause real harm. The choice is clear.”
Project Champion and its coalition partners urge Abbott to stand with small business, patients, veterans, freedom of choice for Texans and veto SB 3.
About Project Champion
Project Champion is a 501c4, bipartisan coalition of former professional athletes dedicated to advancing effective cannabis/hemp legislation that normalizes and destigmatizes its use, unlocking its myriad wellness, medical, and socio-economic benefits for all Americans. The organization is led by former NFL greats Ricky Williams, Jim McMahon, and Kyle Turley. All have been long-time medical cannabis advocates and has made it their personal goal to elevate the legitimacy of cannabis as a medicine. PC is committed to championing meaningful cannabis policy reform and advocating for the rights of patients and businesses in the cannabis sector. Through education, outreach, and community engagement, the organization aims to foster a more equitable and just cannabis landscape across the United States.
About Texas Hemp Coalition
The Texas Hemp Coalition (THC) is a business advocacy and educational non-profit dedicated to providing pertinent information about the hemp industry in the state of Texas. Its goal is to provide beneficial content to members in the areas of farming, processing, retail, and economic development in this developing industry.
About Hemp Industry Leaders of Texas
HILT is an independent, grassroots organization created by and for Texas hemp business owners. The group stands together to face challenges, from legal issues to compliance hurdles, and to promote the growth and success of the industry. HILT holds up farmers, veterans, and customers with medical needs as the primary focus of its advocacy and leverages its partnership with CRAFT for compliance SOPs to protect livelihoods and communities.
