The Texas Senate has given final approval to Senate Bill 5, legislation that would ban hemp-derived THC products and impose sweeping restrictions on the sale and manufacturing of CBD and CBG items.
The measure cleared its third and final reading in the Senate today and has now been officially sent to the Texas House, which is expected to vote on it next week.
Introduced by State Senator Charles Perry (R), SB 5 would make it illegal to sell consumable hemp products containing cannabinoids other than CBD and CBG. The legislation outlines penalties ranging from a Class C misdemeanor for possession to a third-degree felony for manufacturing or distributing prohibited items.
In addition to banning mail delivery and restricting sales near schools, the bill prohibits packaging designed to appeal to minors and limits sales to those 21 and older. Legal products would be subject to extensive new regulations, including a $20,000 annual fee per retail location, $10,000 per manufacturing site, and a $500 registration fee per product. Each item would also require a QR code linked to lab reports and product images for law enforcement use.
Governor Greg Abbott vetoed similar legislation earlier this year but has since expressed support for banning intoxicating hemp products, increasing the odds of his signature if the bill clears the House. If vetoed again, lawmakers could override it with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
The Senate vote comes just days after Representative Jessica González (D) filed House Bill 195 to legalize marijuana possession and retail sales. A companion to SB 5, House Bill 5, was also introduced recently.
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