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3mo ago

Texas House Advances Regulatory THC Bill, Rejecting Senate's Proposed Ban

The House's substitute bill emphasizes tighter regulation over prohibition, setting up a conflict with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the Senate's push for a complete ban.

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Restart CBD displays beverages in a fridge on Thursday, May 9, 2024 in Austin. Beverages are a really interesting opportunity for this industry as they are accessible like edibles, but also allow for people to consume drinks that aren’t alcohol but still have some sort of benefit.
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Overview

  • The Texas House State Affairs Committee unanimously advanced a substitute version of Senate Bill 3, opting for regulation of consumable hemp products instead of an outright ban.
  • The substitute bill permits edibles, beverages, and low-dose smokable hemp flowers but bans vapes, synthetic cannabis, and sales in certain locations such as gas stations.
  • The legislation introduces child-resistant packaging, a minimum purchase age of 21, and location restrictions, while allowing counties to vote on banning hemp sales entirely.
  • Industry fees and taxes are allocated to fund regulation by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, crime labs, and opioid/narcotics response services.
  • Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a staunch advocate for a full THC ban, has threatened to call a special session if the final legislation does not meet his expectations.