Hemp sales in Texas face uncertain future
TEXAS (KMID/KPEJ)- The Texas House and Senate are currently in a showdown battle for which of their proposed THC ban bills will ultimately pass the 89th legislative session.
Texas Senate Bill 3 originally aimed at banning all hemp products containing THC. However, a Texas House committee passed its own version of the bill that was drastically different.
FULL STORY: Hemp sales in Texas face uncertain future
SB 3 Key Differences
Texas Senate's version
Bans all consumable hemp products statewide
Backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
Texas House's version
Allows the sale of hemp beverages (containing less than 0.3% of THC)
Allows very low THC consumables that don't resemble a snack marketed towards children
Bans vapes, vape shops and all synthetics
Backed by Chair of the State Affairs Committee, Ken King
'It allows for some hemp sales to be continued. It bans vapes. It bans vape shops. It bans all synthetics. Delta-9, the natural flower that's grown and sold in Texas, would remain,' King said.
A customer must be 21 to purchase a hemp beverage, and the bill prohibits any sales from being made within 1,000 feet of a school, playground, day care, homeless shelter, or church.
If the bill is passed, it would not guarantee these products will be sold everywhere in Texas. Counties will have the option to opt out of this bill by voting to become a dry county for consumable hemp.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called for the ban of all THC, saying the products being sold in Texas are unregulated and a risk to children. Patrick is so adamant about passing SB 3, he's threatened to force a special session despite not having the explicit power to do so.
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