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June 18, 2025 – With just days remaining until the signing deadline, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has not publicly indicated whether he will approve or veto Senate Bill 3, a highly controversial measure that would ban products containing THC, including hemp-derived items like Delta-8 and Delta-9. The uncertainty has left the state’s booming legal hemp industry in limbo, as businesses, consumers, and industry advocates anxiously await Abbott’s decision.
The bill has been aggressively championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has pushed for stricter regulation of THC products, arguing they pose safety risks and bypass the state’s restrictions on marijuana. Patrick’s office has applied significant political pressure on Abbott to sign the bill, framing it as a matter of public health and law enforcement.
On the other side, the legal hemp industry—which has grown into a multibillion-dollar sector in Texas—is fighting to preserve access to THC products that have become widely available in stores since the federal legalization of hemp in 2018. Industry leaders warn that the ban would shutter thousands of small businesses, eliminate jobs, and push consumers toward illicit markets. Supporters of the industry also argue that hemp-derived THC products provide therapeutic benefits and that Texans should retain the freedom to purchase them legally.
Governor Abbott’s silence on the issue has only intensified speculation. He has historically walked a careful line on cannabis-related legislation, supporting limited medical use while opposing broader legalization. Whether he sides with Patrick’s hardline stance or responds to industry and consumer pushback remains to be seen.
If Abbott neither signs nor vetoes the bill by the deadline, it will automatically become law, potentially triggering swift legal challenges. For now, Texas businesses and consumers are left in a state of uncertainty, awaiting the governor’s next move.
“}]] June 18, 2025 – With just days remaining until the signing deadline, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has not publicly indicated whether he will approve or veto Read More
