Legislation to outlaw hemp-derived THC in Texas is officially dead after House lawmakers failed to reach an agreement before the close of the special session.
Hemp THC gummies.
The proposal, championed by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, sought to prohibit hemp-derived cannabinoids such as THC and CBN while placing heavy restrictions on CBD and CBG. It would have established costly registration fees for retailers and manufacturers, created new criminal penalties, and barred sales to individuals under 21. Despite multiple successful votes in the Senate, the measure never cleared the lower chamber.
Patrick confirmed the stalemate in a statement, noting that lengthy discussions between himself, Governor Greg Abbott, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows did not produce a path forward. “After long discussions last night between the Governor, Speaker, and me on THC, and continued hours of discussion today, we were not able to come to a resolution,” Patrick said. “My position remains unchanged; the Senate and I are for a total THC ban.”
The Senate adjourned sine die after completing unrelated bills on flood response, leaving no opportunity for further debate on the hemp measure.
The outcome was celebrated by advocates who have fought against the ban throughout the year. The Texas Cannabis Collective declared in response, “Write it down. We Texans have once again defeated the hemp THC ban in Texas.”
Had it been enacted, the legislation would have dramatically reshaped Texas’ hemp market, which has grown rapidly since the federal government legalized hemp in 2018. Instead, the industry remains intact, though Patrick’s comments make clear that Senate leadership intends to continue pursuing a full prohibition in future sessions.
For now, hemp businesses and consumers retain access to products containing hemp-derived THC, but the fight is far from over.
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