A bill that would ban nearly all THC-containing hemp products is now headed to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk, sparking widespread concern among civil rights advocates, industry leaders, and medical users alike. Known as Senate Bill 3, the legislation threatens to dismantle Texas’ $8 billion hemp industry and eliminate more than 50,000 jobs if signed into law. Approved by the Senate late Sunday, the bill would restrict the sale and use of all hemp-derived cannabinoids except for CBD and CBG, which are non-intoxicating.
The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) has condemned the bill in a press release, calling it a “dangerous return to the failed policies of overcriminalization.” While the House passed amendments to slightly reduce penalties, making first-time possession a Class C misdemeanor with no jail time, TCRP argues that any criminalization is a step backward.
“Texans should not face fines or jail time for using legal products to manage their pain, sleep, or mental health,” said Chris Harris, Associate Director of Advocacy at TCRP. “SB 3 is a deeply regressive bill that ignores the will and testimony of hundreds of people who shared how these products improved their lives.”
The legislation arrives amid a fractured political debate. While House lawmakers initially pitched the THC ban alongside a proposed expansion of the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) to include chronic pain, the Senate removed that provision in a revised draft. A last-minute deal between Rep. Tom Oliverson and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Sunday announced its restoration, though critics remain skeptical, as reported by The Texas Tribune.
The bill not only criminalizes products used widely by veterans and chronic pain patients but also targets communities already over-policed and underserved by the healthcare system. TCRP and other advocates continue to urge lawmakers to embrace a regulatory model that centers public health, not punishment.
With the bill now awaiting Abbott’s signature, all eyes are on the governor, who has yet to publicly take a stance. If enacted, the ban will take effect in September 2025, upending a legally established industry that has flourished across the state.
