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Did Todd M. Smith–Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s trusted, troubled strategist–shake down Texas hemp growers?

On the morning of Aug. 28, 2019, Todd Smith was running late for a meeting. It would be a busy few days for Smith, a lobbyist and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s top political adviser. He had to go to Houston later in the day, but this breakfast meeting was too important to skip. Before he left Austin, he stopped in at an I-HOP right off I-35, just a few miles from his home. He had a meeting with Nathaniel Czerwinski, a musician and activist who working at an Austin CBD shop at the time. The Texas Agriculture Department was in the middle of crafting its regulations for hemp cultivat...

On the morning of Aug. 28, 2019, Todd Smith was running late for a meeting. It would be a busy few days for Smith, a lobbyist and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s top political adviser. He had to go to Houston later in the day, but this breakfast meeting was too important to skip. Before he left Austin, he stopped in at an I-HOP right off I-35, just a few miles from his home. He had a meeting with Nathaniel Czerwinski, a musician and activist who working at an Austin CBD shop at the time. The Texas Agriculture Department was in the middle of crafting its regulations for hemp cultivatio...

The Texas Rangers' Public Integrity Unit investigated the allegations and reported their findings in the affidavit. It alleges that Smith committed third-degree felony theft. House Bill 1325 legalized the production of hemp and amended the Texas Agriculture Code to put the department in charge of regulation. Andre Vinson wanted to get into the hemp industry,  and knew several landowners, farmers and people in the CBD business. A person named Keenan Williams approached Vinson at a social gathering. Williams allegedly told Vinson that they were working with senior leadership at the Texas Dep...

By Michael MarksMay 10, 2021 7:12 amAgriculture & Animals, Government & Politics Lobbyist Todd Smith is charged in a scheme in which people interested in obtaining licenses to develop hemp products would pay hefty fees to Smith. On the morning of August 28, 2019, Todd Smith was running late for a meeting. It would be a busy few days for Smith, a lobbyist, and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s top political advisor. He had to go to Houston later in the day, but this breakfast meeting was too important to skip. Before he left Austin, he stopped in at an I-HOP right off I-35, just a few m...