Texas Governor Greg Abbott has doubled down on his opposition to banning hemp-derived THC products, choosing instead to push for tighter regulations to protect public safety without undermining the state’s hemp industry. Just two weeks after vetoing Senate Bill 3, which aimed to prohibit nearly all consumable hemp products, Abbott added two hemp-related items to a special legislative session agenda. “Hemp is a lawful agricultural commodity,” Abbott said. “Texas must strongly regulate hemp, and it must do so immediately.”
Abbott’s stance puts him at odds with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a vocal supporter of the ban, who accused the governor of moving toward cannabis legalization. But Abbott argues that prohibition would trigger costly legal battles and devastate an industry employing over 50,000 Texans.
In place of a ban, Abbott recommended a comprehensive list of regulations:
“This list…may provide items to consider in a regulatory system that is strict, fair, and legally sustainable,” Abbott said.
Public opposition to the hemp ban spans party lines. A GOP pollster found that both Republicans and Democrats oppose it, and a Texas Hemp Business Council survey showed even Republican primary voters reject the idea.
In the aftermath of the catastrophic July…
U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on…
The White House on Thursday reaffirmed President…
As Texas lawmakers hold hearings on flood…
A Texas Senate committee overseeing congressional redistricting…
A controversial bill to ban hemp-derived THC…
This website uses cookies.