Of the seven emergency items Texas Gov. Greg Abbott listed during Sunday’s State of the State Address, a ban on consumable hemp products was nowhere to be found.
This may come as a shock to those paying mind to the wishes of Texas politicians like Lt. Gov. Dan. Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. Each has individually expressed their support of a total ban on cannabis products not covered by the state’s highly restricted and costly medical marijuana program.
Cannabis products Patrick has directed the Texas Legislature to look into banning in 2025 include THCa flower, THC beverages, delta-8 vapes and delta-9 edibles. As of February 2025, such products with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC — the main psychoactive compound in cannabis — are considered hemp in Texas and therefore are legal.
Abbott’s decision not to list a total ban on consumable hemp products as an emergency item indicates the Texas governor might not be on the same page as Patrick and Paxton when it comes to cannabis. The hemp industry in Texas is an $8 billion industry that employs over 50,000 Texans, according to a July 2023 study by Whitney Economics.
Due to the way the Texas Legislature operates per the state Constitution, lawmakers can only pass legislation marked as an emergency item by the governor during the first 60 days of a regular legislative session.
Because Abbott did not announce a THC ban as an emergency item, the Texas Legislature is unable to pass any of the numerous cannabis bills filed until 60 days have elapsed. The 60th day of the Texas Legislature’s regular session is March 14, which is also the deadline for filing most bills.
Since November 2024, numerous cannabis bills have been filed in the Texas Legislature. On Jan. 28, state Rep. Matthew Shaheen, R-Dallas, filed House Bill 2155, which looks to prohibit the sale and delivery of consumable hemp products in Texas, making it a class B misdemeanor.
The emergency items listed by Abbott on Feb. 2 include $10 billion in property tax relief, investing in water infrastructure, teacher pay, career training in high schools, education savings accounts, bail reform, and creating Texas Cyber Command.
The 89th Texas Legislature kicked off Jan. 14 and the regular session runs until June 2.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott might not be on the same page as state lawmakers in terms of banning consumable hemp products. Read More
