The cannabis community in the Lone Star State is waking up to a major victory. Governor Greg Abbott opted to veto a proposed Texas hemp ban in a surprise move at the 11th hour, declaring the market should be regulated—not obliterated.
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Abbott, a Republican, waited until the final moment to veto the bill in what would have been one of the most restrictive THC bans in the country and a significant blow to the state’s billion-dollar industry. The law would have made it a misdemeanor to own, manufacture, or sell consumable THC products. The governor believes the ban would never be enacted, and instead called for regulation of the booming hemp market.
“Allowing Senate Bill 3 to become law — knowing that it faces a lengthy battle that will render it dead on arrival in court — would hinder rather than help us solve the public safety issues this bill seeks to contain,” Abbott said in a statement explaining his veto.
Texas legislators will convene a special session on July 21. One of the top agenda items is to create regulations for consumable hemp products.
“Texas must enact a regulatory framework that protects public safety, aligns with federal law, has a fully funded enforcement structure, and can take effect without delay,” Abbott added.
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Critics of the proposed Texas hemp ban argued that the market allows people who cannot access marijuana through the state’s medical marijuana program to acquire goods that can provide a similar relief. Many hemp operators across the state also pointed to the thousands of jobs and millions in revenue the industry brings each year.
Texas currently has some of the strictest marijuana laws in the country, prohibiting all recreational use and providing a limited medical marijuana program. The hemp market has allowed residents to legally access goods offering the same high as cannabis, widening access to those who may not qualify for a medical card.
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However, the medical marijuana market in Texas will also see an expansion soon. Gov. Abbott signed a separate bill into law Saturday that will overhaul the Texas Compassionate Use Program. Several qualifying conditions have been added, including chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. A wider selection of products and more licensed dispensaries will also be coming soon. A one percent THC potency limit will be replaced with a package limit of one gram of THC and 10 mg per dose.
The veto of the Texas hemp ban is considered a big win for cannabis in the South and could have a ripple effect as other states mull similar legislation. Even the federal government is trying to decide what to do with the booming hemp space. Perhaps common-sense regulation for both hemp and cannabis is on its way.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
