Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vetoed legislation that would have outlawed most hemp-derived THC products, including popular items like delta-8 and THCA, which are widely sold in smoke shops, wellness stores, and online.
Hemp THC gummies.
The proposal, Senate Bill 3, would have prohibited the sale of hemp-based THC products intended for ingestion, inhalation, or topical use, effectively banning nearly all intoxicating hemp items currently available in the state. The measure passed with bipartisan support and was set to take effect September 1.
Abbott’s veto halts the bill’s implementation and preserves a multibillion-dollar industry that employs thousands across Texas. His decision came after weeks of silence on the issue and amid growing debate over the economic and legal implications of a statewide ban.
In a separate move, Abbott signed House Bill 46 into law on Saturday. That measure expands Texas’s limited medical marijuana program by adding new qualifying conditions such as chronic pain, terminal illness, and traumatic brain injuries. It also increases the number of licensed dispensaries and allows additional product types like patches and inhalers. That law also takes effect September 1.
[Update: Governor Abbott’s office says Senate Bill 3 “will be placed on the upcoming Special Session agenda for further consideration”, meaning the governor wants the bill revised, and then repassed, with the session beginning July 21. The governor’s office gave no indication as to what changes he would like to see made to SB 3.]
