Overview

• Governor Greg Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3 late on June 22 and called a special legislative session beginning July 21 to develop a regulatory framework for THC consumables.
• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick denounced the veto as a betrayal of law enforcement and families affected by high-potency hemp products after 105 of 108 Republicans had backed the ban.
• Texas’s hemp market has grown into an $8 billion industry employing more than 50,000 people across over 8,500 licensed retailers since 2019.
• Abbott argued that a blanket prohibition would clash with federal hemp law and face immediate constitutional challenges, making regulation a more viable solution.
• Proposed regulatory measures include age restrictions, mandatory product testing, local authority to restrict sales and increased funding for enforcement.