Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, vetoed a bill this past Sunday that would have imposed a blanket ban on all consumable products containing THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana. This last-minute veto allows the burgeoning market, rich with THC-infused vapes, gummies, and other items, to continue its sales across the state.
If Governor Abbott had approved this bill, it would have instated one of the most stringent THC bans in the nation and would have dealt a significant blow to the state’s billion-dollar industry. This law would have criminalized the possession, production, or sale of THC consumables. This legislative move was in response to a 2018 federal law that enabled states to regulate hemp, a plant similar to marijuana that can be synthetically processed to yield THC, and follows other states’ attempts to control THC.
Loopholes in the existing law have allowed a flood of THC-infused products to penetrate the market nationwide, even in states with stringent marijuana laws. Texas has some of the harshest marijuana laws in the country, completely prohibiting all recreational use and only allowing a limited medical marijuana program. The consumables market has enabled residents to legally access products that provide a high similar to that of marijuana.
Several Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns over these products, citing the lack of federal oversight in the manufacturing process. The vetoed Texas bill was one of the more extreme among states that have taken similar measures. Several states, including California, have imposed age limitations and restrictions on the potency of THC products.
This raises important questions about the opposition to the Texas bill. Critics argue it provides an option for those unable to access marijuana through the state’s medical marijuana program to procure products that can offer similar relief. Retailers across the state also highlight the industry’s significant economic contribution, pointing to the thousands of jobs and millions in revenue it generates annually.
Last year, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed a similar bill that aimed to impose age restrictions on THC consumables, stating it would adversely impact small businesses.
The veto by Governor Abbott maintains the status quo for THC-infused products in Texas, leaving the industry’s future in the hands of federal oversight and the evolution of state laws.
