Texas Republicans continue to be split on whether to ban or regulate hemp THC. Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who favors regulation, vetoed a hemp THC ban bill during the regular session and called on lawmakers in this special session to move a bill regulating hemp THC, but they responded by moving a bill that would again just ban it.
The new special session, called after a walkout by Democratic lawmakers seeking to block a mid-decade legislative redistricting bill sought by President Trump left the first special session without a quorum, opened Friday. That same day, the Senate State Affairs Committee approved a reintroduced Senate Bill 6, which bans hemp products with “any amount” of cannabinoids other the CBD and CBG.
It also makes even possession of a prohibited hemp THC a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail.
While lawmakers are advancing the ban, Abbott said in his proclamation that we wanted to sign a bill that would “comprehensively regulate hemp-derived products, including limiting potency, restricting synthetically modified compounds, and establishing enforcement mechanisms, all without banning lawful hemp-derived products.”
Meanwhile, a second measure this session, House Bill 36 filed by Rep. Charlie Geren (R) would follow the governor’s directive to make it so consumable hemp products could only be purchased by adults 21 and older. That bill has yet to be acted on.
Phillip Smith has reported on hemp industry news for over 20 years, while serving as the editor of the Drug War Chronicle. He lives across the road from a hemp farm in Southern Oregon.