Texas Governor Vetoes THC Ban, Calls for Regulation
Texas Governor Greg Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) on Sunday, a contentious measure that would have banned most consumable hemp products containing THC, including delta-8 and delta-9 items like gummies and vapes. In a late-night move just before the veto deadline, Abbott rejected the outright ban, a top priority for Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and instead called for a special legislative session starting July 21st to establish a strict regulatory framework for these products.
In his veto statement, Abbott argued SB 3 would not have survived “valid constitutional challenges” and would put federal and state law on a “collision course,” referencing the 2018 federal Farm Bill that legalized hemp. He stated that a total ban, likely to be swiftly enjoined by courts, would hinder public safety efforts rather than help, leaving children vulnerable. Abbott urged lawmakers to consider an approach similar to alcohol regulation, including barring sales and marketing to minors, requiring product testing, and allowing local governments to prohibit stores selling THC products, with additional funding for enforcement.
The veto infuriated Lt. Gov. Patrick, who criticized Abbott for remaining silent on the bill throughout the session and then abandoning law enforcement and families harmed by high-potency products. Supporters of SB 3 had argued a full prohibition was necessary to protect youth. The Texas hemp industry, which reportedly generates $8 billion annually and supports 50,000 jobs, along with veterans and farmers, had advocated for regulation over a ban, and cheered Abbott’s decision as a win for “truth, freedom and the voices of Texans.”
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