Wichita Falls dispensary reacts to potential hemp ban

Yahoo

2 days ago

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — As bills continue to make their way through the Texas legislature, a couple of them may disrupt the THC industry in Texas.
Senate Bill 3 would ban the Texas hemp industry. However, this bill doesn't affect the state's compassionate use program. Meanwhile, another bill looks to expand the program, which allows people with certain medical conditions to get THC products at lower doses than what is sold at most dispensaries.
SB 3 was introduced to the Texas legislature and was aimed at regulating hemp THC products.
However, a last-minute amendment in the House changed the proposed regulations to a total ban.
The potential total ban leaves dispensaries in limbo.
'We have about four employees here, so pretty much their positions will be done,' Texas Cannabis Co. Owner Carlos Lopez said. 'We wouldn't be able to sustain the business with, you know, 90% of our inventory being illegal after September.'
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick began his push for the ban in 2024.. He cited abuse of the agriculture law and the sale of high-THC products to minors.
Lopez believes heavier regulation of cannabis products is a better avenue than a total ban, as his dispensary only sells to people 21 and older.
'Everybody that we dealt with, like here, the metroplex, like wholesale suppliers there, they were avoiding that just to keep from even having this problem.'
Without ready access to hemp THC products, Lopez fears the lower dosages through the Texas Compassionate Use Program might not satisfy the needs of the consumer.
'If they can't get the compassionate use right away, like, you know, maybe they might go and put themselves in a risky situation where they're trying to get stuff off the black market,' Lopez said.
Lopez hopes the revenue generated by the cannabis industry might be enough to sway lawmakers at the last minute.
'I don't know. We'll just see whenever we get there if it happens or maybe Greg Abbott steps in and vetoes it, and you know he realizes the economic implications of it,' Lopez said. 'That's the main part I'm worried about because we're really losing a lot of money.'
Regardless of Abbott's decision, by May 28, Texas dispensaries will know the final outcome of SB 3.
Last year, a similar bill in Florida was vetoed by Governor Ron DeSantis, and lawmakers instead chose to adopt more regulatory measures, which allow for the sale of hemp THC products statewide.
Although the THC ban has passed the House, another bill, House Bill 46, looks to expand the Compassionate Use Program.
It was originally intended to get low THC products to people with certain conditions, such as epilepsy. However, HB 46 would also make products available to people with conditions like chronic pain, glaucoma, or traumatic brain injuries.
Honorably discharged veterans would also be included, with the state acknowledging that veterans may have particular treatment needs.
The bill would also issue dispensing licenses to at least one location in each of the state's public health regions while providing the flexibility for each licensed location to establish satellite locations to cover more ground.
As of publication, HB 46 has already passed in the House, and it is now awaiting a decision in the Senate.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.