Texas lawmakers will soon reconsider legislation to regulate hemp-derived THC products, after Governor Greg Abbott included the issue in the official agenda for a special legislative session starting July 21.
Texas State Capitol Building.
Governor Abbott is calling for “comprehensive” regulations on hemp-derived products that would “limit potency, restrict synthetically modified compounds, and establish enforcement mechanisms, all without banning a lawful agricultural commodity.” The agenda also includes a related item proposing to criminalize the distribution of hemp-derived THC products to anyone under 21.
The announcement comes just weeks after Governor Abbott vetoed a bill that would have enacted a de facto ban on products containing even small, non-intoxicating amounts of THC. That measure, House Bill 3948, would have prohibited all consumable hemp products with any quantifiable level of THC—including many popular CBD and full-spectrum products. The proposal faced intense backlash from hemp businesses, farmers, and patient advocates, who warned the bill would devastate the state’s hemp industry.
In his veto statement, Governor Abbott emphasized the need for a “balanced approach” to regulation that targets bad actors without outlawing compliant hemp products. He said at the time that he would work with lawmakers to address concerns through a special session.
The two hemp-related items included in the July session reflect that compromise. Rather than an outright ban, the governor is now pushing for targeted restrictions—potentially including caps on THC content, clearer labeling standards, and a framework for enforcement against retailers selling high-potency synthetics or marketing to minors.
Industry stakeholders will be closely watching the upcoming session, which gives legislators another opportunity to craft rules that distinguish between regulated hemp products and intoxicating synthetic cannabinoids like delta-8 and delta-10 THC. For now, the hemp-derived market in Texas remains legal and largely unregulated—a situation Abbott and many lawmakers are clearly determined to change.
More articles from The Marijuana Herald:
