AUSTIN, Texas – A new bill making its way through the Texas Senate could ban all forms of THC in consumable hemp products—including delta-8, which has become a popular alternative to marijuana.
Supporters say it’s about cracking down on an unregulated industry, while opponents worry it could hurt small businesses and limit consumer choices.
It’s called SB 3 and is being pushed by Senator Charles Perry, who says the hemp industry has gotten out of control and needs stricter rules. If passed, it would make selling or even possessing certain hemp products a serious crime—think felony charges in some cases.
Here’s what SB 3 would do: It would make it a third-degree felony to manufacture or sell consumable hemp products that contain THC. That includes delta-8, which is already in kind of a legal gray area. The bill also creates new misdemeanor charges for things like marketing these products to minors, selling them near schools, and even shipping them by mail.
RELATED: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to ban all forms of consumable THC in Texas
Senator Perry argues that companies have taken advantage of loopholes, leading to an explosion of high-potency THC products in Texas. He also wants to raise licensing fees for legal hemp producers—he says if the industry is making billions, they should be helping to pay for enforcement.
But at the same time lawmakers are looking to crack down on hemp, they’re also considering expanding Texas’ medical marijuana program.
Another bill, SB 1505, would allow more companies to produce and sell medical cannabis, and it would increase the amount of THC allowed in treatments for patients with conditions like PTSD and cancer.
A new bill making its way through the Texas Senate could ban all forms of THC in consumable hemp products—including delta-8, which has become a popular alternative to marijuana. Read More
