This year, Texas lawmakers took bold steps to reshape the state’s drug policy landscape, placing a sharp focus on cannabis and alternative treatments, while sidelining efforts to combat the opioid overdose crisis. The decisions made in Austin are poised to impact hundreds of thousands of Texans, from veterans and chronic pain sufferers to small business owners and concerned parents.
Texas once embraced hemp as an economic opportunity. In 2019, the state legalized hemp with less than 0.3% THC, opening the door to a booming $8 billion industry and more than 50,000 jobs. But that door is now in jeopardy. Senate Bill 3, pushed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, will ban consumable hemp products containing synthetic cannabinoids like delta-8 starting in September. Supporters of the ban cite the risks to children, while opponents warn of economic fallout and reduced access to therapeutic alternatives for those who rely on non-traditional treatments, as reported by The Texas Tribune.
As the Texas Legislature wraps its 2025 session, cannabis policy has become a focal point for advocacy across the state. House Bill 46, now awaiting Governor Abbott’s signature, proposes to expand medical cannabis access by permitting new dispensaries, authorizing additional products like inhalers and vape devices, and broadening the list of qualifying conditions to include traumatic brain injuries, Crohn’s disease, and terminal illnesses. Advocates, including veterans, parents of special-needs children, and older Texans, have rallied in support, with the Texas Hemp Business Council delivering over 120,000 petition signatures urging a veto of the broader crackdown on hemp.
Beyond cannabis, Texas has also moved into new territory with mental health treatment. Senate Bill 2308 allocates $50 million to fund ibogaine clinical trials for conditions such as PTSD, substance use disorders, and brain injuries, potentially positioning Texas as a leader in psychedelic research. Meanwhile, efforts to combat the state’s ongoing fentanyl crisis fell short. Although the House unanimously passed a bill to legalize test strips for fentanyl and xylazine, it stalled in the Senate. Only one modest measure, HB 4783, requiring tracking of overdose reversal drug distribution, advanced. With lives and livelihoods at stake, Governor Abbott’s pending decisions by June 22 will shape the direction of public health and personal freedom in Texas.
