Texas – Cannabis Industry

After an hour and a half of debate on the Senate floor, Senate Bill (SB) 3 is engrossed. The bill received 24 ayes and 7 nos.

Senators who support the bill told stories of children and young adults losing all function after ingesting products containing intoxicating hemp. They emphasized how important it is for law enforcement officers to be able to immediately tell whether a product is illegal during a traffic stop, rather than make an assumption.

Opponents of the bill requested regulation instead of a total ban and raised the issue of veterans and other individuals who rely on these products rather than relying on alcohol and opioids for relief. Senator Charles Perry assured them that physician-prescribed hemp products will be more accessible under the Texas Compassionate-Use Program after a corresponding bill—SB 1505—is introduced and passes this Legislative Session.

The 89^th Legislative Session in Texas officially began on January 14, 2025, and one of the hottest topics during this session is Senate Bill (SB) 3, which proposes to ban all forms of consumable THC in Texas. According to Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, SB 3, carried by Senator Charles Perry (R – Lubbock), is intended to prevent the sale of products that, on the surface, appear to be compliant with federal law as they are purportedly hemp products, but in reality are oftentimes manufactured in such a way that resulting THC concentrations are higher than cannabis products sold in state-licensed retail dispensaries. Importantly, recreational cannabis use remains illegal in Texas, but is legal for medicinal use with a physician’s prescription through the state’s Compassionate Use Program.

Tag: Texas

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