A popular cannabinoid is being sold in stores and advertised on billboards across North Texas as "legal THC."

Why it matters: The legality of delta-8 THC, which has a slightly different chemical structure that makes it less potent than "regular" marijuana, is murky.

• This legal ambiguity has produced a large, unregulated industry that cultivates and sells delta-8 in flower, vape, edible and concentrate form.

• Delta-8 has become a new front line in the state's battle over weed legalization.

Context: A representative of the Department of State Health Services testified in May that delta-8 is an illegal substance covered under the Texas Controlled Substance Act.

Yes, but: Delta-8 is naturally occurring and extracted from hemp, which was legalized as part of the 2018 Farm Bill.

• Legal hemp and products derived from hemp must contain less than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive compound that gives people the euphoric high.
• Legislation that aimed to ban delta-8 in Texas failed during the state's most recent legislative session.
• More than a dozen other states have restricted its sale or use.

What they're saying: "The cat's out of the bag," Heather Fazio, director of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, tells Axios.

• "Texas can’t reasonably go back to a state of prohibition. It’s time to seriously consider regulation. It’s time to talk about keeping it out of the hands of kids when it comes to packaging and advertising."

Of note: Delta-8 THC will trigger a positive result in most drug tests.

Be smart: With no oversight, buying delta-8 is a consumer-beware endeavor. Some delta-8 products have QR codes where you can see the lab where it was tested.

Black households in North Texas spend a higher percentage of their income on rent than Latino, white or Asian households, according to new research from Zillow.

Why it matters: With rent prices climbing quickly, people of color are affected disproportionately.

By the numbers:

• Rent burdens are highest for Black households, which typically spend 30.2% of their income on rent, compared to 27.7% for Latino, 26% for white, and 20.6% for Asian households.
• The average rent burden for all renters in North Texas is 27%, compared to 26.7% in 2019
• The average rent is $1,684 as of August, up 14.9% year over year and up 2% month over month.

Context: North Texas is not the only U.S. metro area showing disparities.

• In San Diego, Black renters spend 52.6% of their income on rent.
• In Orlando, Latino households put 42% of their income toward rent.

Dallas photographer Richard Sharum spent four years documenting the Campesino population in rural Cuba.

Why it matters: Campesinos are small-plot family farmers who live in the most remote parts of the country — but as more young Cubans move to cities for a more modern life, these centuries-old communities are fading.

• Sharum's new book, "Campesino Cuba," depicts the complicated relationship these isolated communities have with the land they depend upon.

• The book is already getting positive attention in the national photo community.

Flashback: In 2015, Sharum displayed 60-foot photographs of Dallas residents experiencing homelessness on eight buildings downtown, including one facing City Hall.

• His work has been shown in galleries in Kyoto, Sao Paulo, New York and Dallas.

What they're saying: "I've always been fascinated by Cuba, but I wasn't interested in documenting the expected topics like renowned political figures or classic cars or the colorful streets of Havana," Sharum tells Axios.

• "I was more interested in taking a long and detailed look at the most isolated population and their position in Cuban history. For that, I knew I'd need to get out into the countrysides, where the blood meets the soil."

🔎 The Justice Department is investigating abuse allegations at five Texas juvenile facilities. (CBSDFW)

🚄 A bullet train station is planned for south of Downtown Dallas near the Trinity River. (DMN)

🚧 Construction on a border wall could continue despite President Biden canceling the contract. (KERA)

🏈 A federal judge upheld Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle La'el Collins' 5-game suspension. (Sports Illustrated)

🍕 A puffy-crust pizza chain from Arizona is coming to McKinney. (CultureMap)

💬 Quote du jour:

"As entertaining as this hero speech is, does the speaker yield for a question?" — State Rep. Rafael Anchía, a Dallas Democrat, to Rep. J.M. Lozano, Republican from Kingsville, during a debate over a redistricting map that could protect Republican control for the next decade. (Texas Tribune)

Texas ranked among the leading states in the U.S. to start a farm or ranch, according to a new report from LawnStarter.

• The analysis examined states with existing farm communities and compared states based on overhead and return on investment potential.

Montana topped the list, followed by Kansas, North Dakota, Texas and Oklahoma.

• "Most of these states ... boast cheap land, large established farming communities for support, and highly developed infrastructure," the report found.

The worst state to own a farm? Oklahoma, because then you'd have to live in Oklahoma.

• Kidding. It was Alaska.