Greg Abbott Sets Out Vision for Texas THC Regulation
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has pushed for strict enforcement to ensure that THC products are not sold to people under the age of 21.
Abbott set out a vision for the future of Texas THC regulations after he vetoed a bill that would have fully banned consumable products containing the compound of marijuana that which makes it psychoactive, THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, in the state.
"We need to have a highly regulated hemp industry," Abbott told Fox 4 on Tuesday.
Newsweek has contacted Governor Abbott via email for comment.
Main: THC products seen at the Dope Daughters dispensary, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Austin, Texas. Inset: Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks at Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville, Texas.
Main: THC products seen at the Dope Daughters dispensary, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Austin, Texas. Inset: Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks at Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville, Texas.
Main: Eric Gay, Inset: Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo
Why It Matters
Abbott's approach to THC has put him at loggerheads with fellow Republicans who have supported a complete ban.
Some law enforcement leaders have said the only way to fully regulate THC use is to ban it completely and that they will not be able to fully stop smoke shops from illegally selling THC above the state-mandated dose, according to Fox 4. Abbott says regulation is possible when police are given the right resources.
What To Know
Abbott's proposal for the future of THC is to keep it regulated at its 0.3 percent legal limit. He said he will not be legalizing marijuana in the state, and will be pushing for stricter enforcement to ensure that hemp products are not sold to people under the age of 21, and that they do not contain any synthetic compounds.
He told Fox 4 that the industry can be regulated like alcohol, including making it illegal to sell products near areas frequented by children.
He added he still wanted hemp farmers and people selling the products to be allowed.
In June, Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3, which would have fully banned THC in Texas. The bill, introduced by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, received overwhelming Republican support in the state legislature.
Critics of THC in the state say that it poses a danger to children who may find it and consume it, and have pointed to THC as a public health risk. Lieutenant Governor Patrick has said that THC consumption leads to addiction and brain alteration, as reported in The Texas Tribune.
The governor vetoed it, saying that the "legal defects in the bill are undeniable." He mentioned that a similar ban in Arkansas was stalled by lawsuits for years.
The bill would have banned hemp-derived cannabinoids in Texas, the market of which reached $2.78 billion industry in the state in 2023, according to the Baker Institute at Rice University.
On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on State Affairs passed Senate Bill 5 with a 10-0 vote. The bill would eliminate the majority of hemp products, according to The Texas Tribune.
Hemp-derived cannabinoids were made legal in Texas in 2019 following the passage of a 2018 federal law which legalized hemp. They must contain a THC limit of 0.3 percent.
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick shows products containing THC while calling for a ban on the consumables on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the state Capitol in Austin, Texas.
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick shows products containing THC while calling for a ban on the consumables on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the state Capitol in Austin, Texas.
Jim Vertuno/AP Photo
What People Are Saying
Governor Abbott told Fox 4: "We need to have a highly regulated hemp industry to ensure that farmers are able to grow it and that hemp products that do not have an intoxicating level of THC in it can be sold in the marketplace."
Steve Dye, a police chief, told The Texas Tribune: "It would take decades, in our opinion, and millions of millions of dollars to hire and train agents to understand chemistry, potency threshold, lab testing and labeling compliance, and they will never be able to keep pace with the retailers, wholesalers and shippers."
What Happens Next
Senate Bill 5 has now advanced to the full chamber. But, according to The Texas Tribune, lawmakers in the House are more open about regulating THC products rather than banning them outright.
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