Overview
- On June 23, Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3, which would have outlawed all consumable hemp products containing delta-8 and delta-9 THC.
- Abbott said the proposed blanket ban would face swift constitutional challenges under the 2018 federal Farm Bill.
- He called lawmakers back for a special session starting July 21 to develop an alcohol-style regulatory framework for THC products.
- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick denounced the veto as effectively legalizing recreational marijuana and said families and law enforcement felt abandoned.
- The hemp sector now supports over 8,000 retailers and 50,000 jobs, and polls indicate a majority of Texans favor regulated THC sales over an outright ban.