AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas lawmaker has introduced a bill in the legislature that would broaden restrictions on the hemp industry without an outright ban on all THC products.
THC is the main ingredient in marijuana that delivers a high. Current Texas law allows hemp-derived products that contain less than 0.03% of THC. Hemp products, ranging from gummies and beverages to vapes and flower buds, are sold at more than 8,300 locations around the state, from dispensaries to convenience stores, the Texas Tribune reported.
Editor’s note: The above video originally aired on March 3.
State Rep. Ken King, a Republican from the Texas Panhandle, proposed House Bill 28, which includes stricter oversight and licensing requirements for the growing multi-billion-dollar hemp industry.
It’s an alternative to Senate Bill 3 backed by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick. He’s pushing to ban all THC products in Texas, including the popular Delta-8 and Delta-9 products sold over the counter and online.
Patrick says unregulated THC products are being sold in stores across the state. He claims that retailers are exploiting a legal loophole and selling “dangerous” products.
SB 3 has already passed a Senate committee unanimously but faces opposition from industry advocates and some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Nearly 200 people testified against SB 3 earlier this month, urging lawmakers to focus on regulation rather than prohibition.
“You don’t cure alcoholism by banning light beer,” Mark Bordas, executive director of the Texas Hemp Business Council, argued. “Hemp is the light beer of cannabis offerings. If Texas has a THC problem, doesn’t it stand to reason that the source of that THC problem is the high-potency marijuana with higher concentrations of THC?”
Gov. Greg Abbott has called for more research into the economic impact of banning THC products, citing concerns for thousands of licensed retailers, growers and manufacturers.
Texas isn’t alone. Due to legal changes and a hazy political landscape, residents in roughly half of the states have easy access to hemp products that bear a strong resemblance to marijuana and are far less regulated, according to a study by Rice University’s Baker Institute.
Key points of HB 28
Expanded Licensing Fees and Requirements:
Manufacturers and processors of consumable hemp products would pay a $5,000 initial licensing fee per location.
Renewal fees are set at $2,500 per location
Prohibition of synthesized cannabinoids:
Age restrictions:
Manufacturing practices:
All consumable hemp products must adhere to current “good manufacturing practices,” as defined by state rules.
Criminal Offenses and Penalties:
Advocates for the hemp industry view HB 28 as a more moderate approach compared to SB 3, which could devastate businesses reliant on THC-infused products.
How Texas voters view marijuana debate
A survey of voters released in February by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at UH looked into how Texans feel about marijuana.
Shifting attitudes towards recreational use
While support for medical marijuana is highest, a majority of Texans also favor more lenient policies regarding recreational use:
The survey revealed some variations in support along party lines, though majorities in both parties favor recreational use:
Decriminalization
There’s also bipartisan support for the decriminalization of marijuana.
Medical marijuana gains widespread approval
The survey shows that an impressive 79% of Texans support legalizing the sale and use of medical marijuana with a prescription. This strong backing for medical cannabis cuts across various demographic groups, suggesting a broad consensus on its potential therapeutic benefits.
Conflicting views on THC products
Interestingly, despite strong support for marijuana reform, more than half of Texans back Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s proposed ban on THC consumables, which are currently unregulated in the state. This support varies significantly across demographics:
