Latest news with #TexasBan
CNN
7 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Texas cannabis industry faces collapse as THC ban heads to governor's desk
Texas lawmakers passed a bill with bipartisan support to ban THC products in Texas, aruging they're too dangerous for consumers. Industry leaders say it could essentially eliminate a multi-billion dollar industry in the state. Both sides are waiting to see if Gov. Greg Abbott will sign or veto the bill. Ed Lavandera reports.
CBS News
29-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Effort to ban minors under 18 from social media in Texas fades as time runs out
A push in Texas to ban social media accounts for children under 18 faded Thursday after lawmakers did not take a key vote on creating one of the nation's toughest restrictions aimed at keeping minors off platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. The bill, which already passed the GOP-controlled state House, aims to go further than a Florida social media ban for minors under 14. Australia banned social media accounts for anyone under 16. But earlier momentum behind the Texas measure slowed at the eleventh hour in the state Senate as lawmakers face a weekend deadline to send bills to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Abbott has not said publicly whether he supported the proposed ban, which was opposed by tech trade groups and critics who called it an unconstitutional limit on free speech. "This bill was the best way to protect children in this state," state Rep. Jared Patterson, a Republican carrying the measure, said Wednesday. The legislative session ends Monday. That leaves a narrowing path for the proposal that, if passed, would set up another test of state efforts to set boundaries on how and when children can access social media. Earlier this week, Abbott signed into law a separate measure requiring Apple and Google to verify the age of online app store users, as well as parental consent to download apps and make in-app purchases for users under 18. Utah passed a similar bill earlier this year. The proposed Texas ban aimed at minors is the latest move in a growing bipartisan push nationwide to address the impacts of social media on the well-being of children. Critics accuse platforms of using addictive functions to lure children onto their site and keep them there, and of not doing enough to curb violent or age-inappropriate content, or online abuse. Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online "constantly" despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a December 2024 report published by the Pew Research Center. The American Psychological Association has called on tech companies and lawmakers to protect children's mental health, arguing that social media platforms are "particularly risky" to young people who cannot disengage from sites and struggle with impulse control. States and countries have passed various measures to address the problem, and some have run into legal challenges. A federal judge in 2024 temporarily blocked Utah's first-in-the-nation law requiring social media companies to check the ages of all users and place restrictions on accounts belonging to minors. California, which is home to some of the largest tech companies in the world, will make it illegal for social media platforms to knowingly provide addictive feeds to children without parental consent starting in 2027. And New York state allows parents to block their kids from getting social media posts suggested by a platform's algorithm. Many tech companies have established a presence in Texas, including X, which is owned by Elon Musk.
Associated Press
29-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Texas push to ban minors under 18 from social media fades with time running out
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A push in Texas to ban social media accounts for children under 18 faded Thursday after lawmakers did not take a key vote on creating one of the nation's toughest restrictions aimed at keeping minors off platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. The bill, which already passed the GOP-controlled state House, aims to go further than a Florida social media ban for minors under 14. Australia banned social media accounts for anyone under 16. But earlier momentum behind the Texas measure slowed at the eleventh hour in the state Senate as lawmakers face a weekend deadline to send bills to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Abbott has not said publicly whether he supported the proposed ban, which was opposed by tech trade groups and critics who called it it an unconstitutional limit on free speech. 'This bill was the best way to protect children in this state,' state Rep. Jared Patterson, a Republican carrying the measure, said Wednesday. The legislative session ends Monday. That leaves a narrowing path for the proposal that, if passed, would set up another test of state efforts to set boundaries on how and when children can access social media. Many tech companies have established a presence in Texas, including X, which is owned by Elon Musk. Earlier this week, Abbott signed into law a separate measure requiring Apple and Google to verify the age of online app store users, as well as parental consent to download apps and make in-app purchases for users under 18. Utah passed a similar bill earlier this year. The proposed Texas ban aimed at minors is the latest move in a growing bipartisan push nationwide to address the impacts of social media on the well-being of children. Critics accuse platforms of using addictive functions to lure children onto their site and keep them there, and of not doing enough to curb violent or age-inappropriate content, or online abuse. Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online 'constantly' despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a December 2024 report published by the Pew Research Center. The American Psychological Association has called on tech companies and lawmakers to protect children's mental health, arguing that social media platforms are 'particularly risky' to young people who cannot disengage from sites and struggle with impulse control. States and countries have passed various measures to address the problem, and some have run into legal challenges. A federal judge in 2024 temporarily blocked Utah's first-in-the-nation law requiring social media companies to check the ages of all users and place restrictions on accounts belonging to minors. California, which is home to some of the largest tech companies in the world, will make it illegal for social media platforms to knowingly provide addictive feeds to children without parental consent starting in 2027. And New York state allows parents to block their kids from getting social media posts suggested by a platform's algorithm.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Retailers brace as hemp-derived THC products ban nears law in Texas
A sweeping ban on hemp-derived THC products is on the verge of becoming law in Texas, with Senate Bill 3 now awaiting only the governor's signature after clearing both legislative chambers. The bill, which has sparked heated debate, would outlaw the sale, possession, and manufacture of any consumable product containing THC — the psychoactive compound found in cannabis — even in trace amounts. Retailers warn of business losses CBS News Texas Retailers across the state, including Oak Cliff Cultivators in Dallas, are bracing for the fallout. Just about everything you see inside this Oak Cliff hemp store, outside of the clothing, would be illegal to sell if the statewide ban goes into effect. Eddie Velez, owner of Oak Cliff Cultivators, expressed frustration over the legislation. "It's a tough pill to swallow," Velez said. "We've been in the industry trying to do everything right. We followed the rules. We maintained our permits, and yet we are having the rug pulled out from under our feet." Critics say loophole fueled growth The bill, which passed the House in a 95-44 vote, would effectively dismantle a multibillion-dollar industry that has flourished since hemp was legalized in Texas in 2019. That law allowed for the sale of hemp products with low levels of delta-9 THC, but did not regulate other intoxicating cannabinoids like delta-8, which critics say created a loophole Lawmakers cite youth access concerns Supporters of SB 3 argue that the hemp industry has failed to adequately regulate THC content and prevent access by minors. "Let's be clear, no social good comes from the legalization of intoxicants," said Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, who authored the amendment that restored the bill to a full ban. "We are not banning hemp — we are banning high. If it gets you high, it is not legal anymore." The legislation includes exceptions for the state's low-THC medical cannabis program, but would impose criminal penalties of up to a year in jail for possession and up to 10 years for manufacturing or selling banned products Hemp retailers warn of closures Retailers like Velez, who supported age restrictions and bans on synthetic cannabinoids, say the total prohibition goes too far. "We were willing to work with lawmakers on reasonable regulations," he said. "But this is a death sentence for our business." The bill's passage marks a dramatic reversal for Texas, which only six years ago legalized hemp to support agriculture. Now, with thousands of businesses and tens of thousands of jobs on the line, the industry faces an uncertain future.
