TEXAS — Going back to the streets for cannabis is a reality that Estella Castro is hearing often.

“’I don’t even know, a phone number to my old drug dealer where I used to buy my pot from,’ and I’m like, wow, that was mind blowing that she was at least over the age of 65,” said Castro, describing a conversation with a customer.

Castro owns the Austinite Cannabis Company. Leading up to Tuesday, the store had its biggest sale in its six-year history with up to 50% off smokable THC products.

Everything smokable must go, which makes up 42% of Castro’s sales. A majority of her edible products must also be repackaged in child proof packaging.

The push to ban all THC products started with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

“This is to save an entire generation from being hooked on drugs,” said Patrick last May during the legislative session.

Gov. Greg Abbot vetoed Patrick’s preferred bill to ban recreational THC consumables. Abbott directed the Texas Department of State Health Services to craft rules that decrease the allowed amount of total THC in products to 0.3%, essentially banning smokeable hemp products and possibly closing small businesses statewide.

“There’s so many people that have been affected, I can’t even imagine, the unemployment rate that’s going to go sky high,” said Castro.

According to the cannabis thinktank Whitney Economics, Texas’ cannabis industry employs around 53,000 people across the retail, wholesale and manufacturing sectors. Castro expects to lose half her revenue to follow the new state rules. Her plan is to try and sell edible and drinkable products for two months before possibly having to shut her doors for good.

Supporters of the new rules say they are necessary to protect children and other consumers from products with high amounts of THC.

“We support the research and evidence shows that keeping those intoxicating products off the shelves is the best way to prevent youth use,” said Betsy Jones, the policy director for Texans for Safe and Drug-Free Youth.

But there is still a concern about the lack of state funding needed to ensure all stores are in compliance. Jones plans to urge the Legislature to make sure it’s there.

“The best practice for compliance checks is to check every retailer once every quarter. What Department of State Health Services has said is that they have funding to check every retailer about once every five years,” said Jones.

Even without regular checks, owners like Castro are following the rules to the detriment of their livelihoods and customers.