Project Champion, Ricky Williams Step into Texas Hemp Fight

*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.