Austin, TX
The Austin Chronic – New to the Texas Medical Market: RSO Products and Delicious Chocolate
Sweet relief: Kevin Curtin sampling Texas Original’s new RSO Belgian Dark Chocolate Bites (photos by Kevin Curtin)
Valentine’s Day proved a fitting occasion for multiple medical dispensaries in Austin to roll out new menu items that pair cannabis and chocolate – to which I say: Lower your bow, Cupid; I need no convincing to eat chocolate that gets me high.
In the modern world of edibles, it’s easy to sleep on cocoa confections. After all, for most of us over the age of 30, our first THC-eating experience was likely the ubiquitous “pot brownie” – an earthy-tasting chocolate baked good with inexact dosage (in lieu of milligrams, we simply described them as “strong” or “weak”). Since then, gummies and candies, which are fast-acting and low-calorie, have come to dominate roughly 3/4 of the U.S.’ nearly $10 billion annual edible market, which also includes a growing beverage component. But chewing up a gummy or sipping a THC seltzer doesn’t really feel like you’re treating yourself in the same mouthwatering way that biting into a chunk of decadent chocolate does.
As a patient in Texas’ Compassionate Use program, I procured several new chocolate products this month. Among them, Texas Original’s first medical cannabis chocolate product: Belgian Dark Chocolate Bites. The jar, which costs $70, includes 20 hexagon-shaped chocolates that each contain 10mg of THC. The clerk at the dispensary noted that it takes about 45 minutes to feel the effect, so I ate two of them while at a friend’s birthday party in anticipation of an unanxious night’s sleep a few hours later.
I judge the taste and presentation of edibles by the standard of “would I be satisfied if this was some random non-cannabis snack that I impulsively bought at Trader Joe’s,” and the Belgian Dark Chocolate Bites passed. They are super solid texturally, as dark chocolate is firmer than milk chocolate, so there’s an initial crunch before it softens with a rich depth of flavor. I was starting to feel pretty uplifted as I sang karaoke at the party – a passionate version of Meat Loaf’s “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” if you must know – and, by the time I returned home, I had a body-high so pronounced that I remember telling my cat, “I’m really noticing how my skin feels right now.”
After two hexagon-shaped chocolates, I was restful and relaxed and slept like a baby. Actually, I slept better than a baby, because our actual baby woke me up at 5:20am.
But above all I was restful and relaxed and slept like a baby. Actually, I slept better than a baby, because our actual baby woke me up at 5:20am. This is when I noticed that, seven and a half hours after consumption, I still felt fantastic. I suppose that’s because edibles with significant fat content, while taking longer to hit you, also have more of a long-term effect.
The only thing I regret about the experience was pigging out on a bunch of assorted chocolates from a heart-shaped box left over from V-Day. I guess eating chocolate that gets you high doesn’t preclude you from wanting to eat chocolate while you’re high.
The most intriguing aspect of Texas Original’s chocolates is that they’re the first product in Texas’ medical market that uses RSO. Unlike a lot of three-letter acronyms in cannabis, RSO isn’t a dizzying combination of prefixes and suffixes only discernible to organic chemistry majors, like Resinonia-Smokeadosious-Oxidank or something. It plainly stands for “Rick Simpson Oil.”
If you’re unfamiliar: Rick Simpson is the rare person who discovered a potential medical breakthrough and did not try to monetize it. Instead, he freely taught others how to make it and gave the oils away until Canadian authorities eventually raided and seized his home.
An engineer by trade, Simpson sustained a head injury in 1997 while working at a hospital that left him with debilitating tinnitus and dizziness. When prescription medicine proved ineffective, he found better results using cannabis. Years later, when he developed skin cancer, Simpson crafted a concentrated cannabis oil that he applied to his lesions, and he claimed it cured his cancer. That led to him becoming both an activist and a Johnny Appleseed-like figure for an oil recipe that uses specific solvents and techniques to preserve the whole-plant profile of marijuana with all the cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, chlorophyll, and compounds.
Most edibles, tinctures, and vape cartridges use distillate, the process for which removes basically everything except the intended cannabinoid in a high potency. Meanwhile, the complete-spectrum RSO is praised for a theoretical “entourage effect,” where the plant compounds are believed to work together to increase the health benefits of the THC.
Texas Original’s director of marketing, Francesca Neely-Dickey, says that one of the most common requests they’ve gotten from patients is natural, full-plant products.
“They want something strain-specific, they want something full-spectrum, and they want something as natural as possible,” she says, noting the RSO oil is made from the Blue Dream plants Texas Original grows in their Manchaca facility.
Along with the chocolate bites, Texas Original also recently began providing patients with an RSO tincture, which is an extract that users can administer under the tongue with a dropper. Neely-Dickey expects more RSO products to come as the dispensary continues to evolve its menu.
While its anticancer benefits are largely anecdotal and lacking clinical trial data, RSO remains a popular treatment for cancer – which is one of the qualifying conditions of Texas’ medical cannabis program. But Neely-Dickey points out that there are other patient needs that make RSO a good addition to their product line.
“Unlike distillate, which only has the purified cannabinoids in it, RSO gives you more of a balanced effect and it’s a little less intense,” she says. “For some of our patients who are sensitive to THC, the distillate can be too much for them. RSO is more of a product that mimics the effects of smoking flower, so it’s really beneficial for those patients.”
2026 PRO SWIM SERIES – AUSTIN
A revised version of the heat sheets for this weekend’s Pro Swim Series opener in Austin, Texas is absent a number of big names, with a handful of other significant scratches revealed by the Wednesday morning heat sheets.
Out of the Meet
The biggest names to have fully withdrawn from the meet include US National Team members Hunter Armstrong and Grant House.
The two-time Olympian and three-time Olympic relay medalist Armstrong has raced sparingly since the Paris Olympics, citing financial hardship behind the hiatus. That included skipping the World Championship Trials in 2025.
He did race at the U.S. Open in December, but only briefly: he finished 14th in the 50 free final (22.35) and 14th in the 50 back prelims (25.65) before scratching the B-Final.
In Austin this week, he was scheduled to race the 50 free (#8 seed), 100 back (#2 seed), 50 fly (#8 seed), 50 back (#2 seed), and 100 free (#6 seed).
Fellow U.S. National Team member Grant House has also pulled out of the meet. He had 5 entries in the meet including 5th in the 200 IM and 6th in the 100 fly.
House recently posted a video of a “speed practice” at Arizona State, so the reason behind his withdrawal is not obvious.
Other full-meet withdrawals include:
- 17-year-old Addison Bitel from Laker Swim in Florida, who was the #5 seed in the thin women’s 50 and 100 meter breaststroke fields, plus 6th in the 200 breast. Her teammate Brynn Lavigueur, the #6 seed in the 50 back and #7 seed in the 100 back, also scratched the meet.
- 16-year-old Natalie Bradac from the University of Denver Hilltoppers club team, the #9 seed in the 100 breast
Last-Minute Additions
In addition to the scratches, there were some last minute additions to the meet entries. That includes breaststrokers Luke Barr and Mitch Mason, who are both training with Coley Stickels‘ pro group at Texas Ford Aquatics.
They are the #7 and #8 seeds in the 100 breaststroke, with the versatile Barr also holding high seeds in the 50 fly (#9), 100 fly (#7), and 50 back (#6).
Wednesday Scratches
The most significant scratch from the final psych sheet to Wednesday’s heat sheet is French international Pauline Mahieu. Part of a large contingent of French swimmers at the meet, Mahieu was the #2 seed in the 100 back.
That is her only entry of the meet, so in essence she has scratched the meet.
While one recent Instagram post from last week said that she planned to leave for Los Angeles for a camp with the French team on January 5, her Instagram story on Tuesday shows her dragging a sled with groceries across the snow with the caption “change of scenery.”
The women’s 1500 free also saw scratches from the #2, #3, and #4 entries behind the event’s most dominant swimmer ever Katie Ledecky.
The #2 seed Claire Weinstein, the #3 seed Ashley Twichell, and the #4 seed Caroline Pennington are all absent from the heat sheets in a field that has been reduced to only its 8 swimmer ‘fastest heat.’
Weinstein, a freshman at Cal, is still entered in the 50 free as the #11 seed, while Twichell and Pennington won’t race on Wednesday at all.
The other big scratch from Wednesday’s heat sheets is Kato Trinquesse, another Denver Hilltopper drop from the women’s 100 breaststroke field. She was promoted to the #7 seed after her teammate withdrew from the meet.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Central Texas Food Bank is expanding its partnership with Austin Independent School District by opening six new school-based food pantries at elementary schools across the district.
The Feeding Futures School Pantry locations provide families with convenient access to food on their child’s campus, according to the food bank.
ALSO | Billie Eilish’s tour donates funds to Central Texas nonprofit dedicated to planting trees
“This is a wonderful way for us to provide easy access to food – nutritious, healthy food – that’s culturally relevant to families,” Anurita Mittra, Vice President of Network Programs and Services with the Central Texas Food Bank, said.
By placing food resources where families already gather, the pantries help remove transportation barriers and reduce stigma associated with seeking food assistance. The pantries are designed to feel welcoming and supportive for families.
“Schools are trusted spaces, and these pantries are designed to feel welcoming, familiar, and supportive for families,” the food bank said.
A complete listing of participating school districts and on-campus pantries is available here.
Austin, TX
Bradlink’s President: Helen Callier to Speak at the University of Texas Austin Readiness Training Program for HUB’s Graduation
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bradlink LLC’s president – Helen Callier will speak at the University of Texas at Austin signature IC2 Institute’s Readiness Training Program (RTP) Graduation for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB’s). Helen leads an award-winning SBA small business and industry recognized government contracting firm that provides technical services to various local agencies including Austin Independent School District (AISD).
This training program for HUB’s provides Regional Technical Assistance Resources, reviews government databases to register in and presents information on government contracting. The final session and graduation are designed to motivate the mostly start-up companies to propose and position their firms to win government contracts.
With 20 years of proven industry experience in government contracting, Bradlink is branded as a trailblazer and innovator in providing technical solutions on transit, education and healthcare projects.
Callier says, “It’s truly a privilege to share my firm’s story, insights, and tips on obtaining government contracts with other small businesses. Texas is a great place to start and grow a small business and the sessions the HUB’s have attended place them in a strong position.”
Bradlink’s achievements have been marked by notable projects such as working as a Prime on the 2022 $2.44 billion AISD Bond Program, supporting key projects at Austin Bergstrom Airport, and serving as BIM Lead for the CMAR on the Houston Airport System Hobby International $470 million 7-gate Expansion project.
“We’re excited that our Leader has been invited again to speak during UT Austin’s IC2 Institute’s RTP last session and graduation this year. I believe Helen’s business insights will motivate members of the co-hort to execute their growth plans as there are lots of opportunities in Texas to pursue.” Moruf Jimoh, Technical Manager of Bradlink LLC
Bradlink’s President, Helen Callier, has been a driving force in the company’s success. In 2025, Bradlink received numerous industry awards including from the Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum, Tri-County Regional Black Chamber of Commerce and recognized by the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association. Also, in 2023, her influential expertise earned her a prominent spot on page 49 of the SBA Small Business National Resource Guide, showcasing her as a thought leader in the industry.
About Helen Callier
Helen Callier (AKA), B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Prairie View A&M University and graduate on the Goldmans Sachs 10KSB Program, is President of Bradlink LLC, a Technical Services firm and Founder of PermitUsNow, an industry recognized building permitting and expediting firm headquartered in Texas. Recognized as HBJ’s Women Who Mean Business, SBA Women Business Champion, former State of Texas Commissioner of Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and serving as an Advisory Board Tri-County Regional Black Chamber of Commerce. Helen is known as a point guard in the business community. She is a regular blogger for SubContractors USA News, a published author, dynamic speaker and a valuable contributor in the business community in Texas.
About Bradlink LLC
Bradlink LLC, with offices in Houston, Austin and Dallas, Texas, is a technical services firm, with over two decades of experience, provides program management, building design, permit expediting, construction oversight, and facilities support services primarily to government agencies. Clients of Bradlink include the Houston Airport System, JACOBS, Atkins Realis’, Hensel Phelps, Austin ISD, EXP US, and USACE.
Media Contact:
Len Cal
2813129981
[email protected]
SOURCE Bradlink LLC
NASCAR driver Biffle’s NC home burglarized weeks after deadly plane crash
North Dakota troopers escort semi truck hauling 81 foot wide building on five mile journey
Sen. Jon Husted cites Ohio case in push for abortion drug restrictions
Absentee Shawnee tribal leadership responds after citizens report harassment by ICE
Oregon Receiver Evan Stewart’s Return Could Shake Up Ducks’ Offense
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Republicans light cigars, cigarettes on burning photos of Khamenei to show support for Iranian protesters
EU Parliament questions defence loan’s ‘€17 billion gift’ to Hungary
Trump administration sends letter wiping out addiction, mental health grants
Video: Clashes With Federal Agents in Minneapolis Escalate
Venezuela releases multiple American citizens from prison following military operation
-
Montana4 days agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
-
Technology1 week agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Delaware5 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX6 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Dallas, TX1 week agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Virginia4 days agoVirginia Tech gains commitment from ACC transfer QB
-
Education1 week agoVideo: This Organizer Reclaims Counter Space
-
Iowa1 week agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star