Texas Governor Greg Abbott just vetoed legislation that would have banned all tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products. These products have made a name for themselves by virtue of their psychoactive effects from THC-rich marijuana. This ruling marks an important turning point in the regulation of cannabis in Texas. Perhaps counterintuitively, the state is famous for its notoriously hard-line, statewide marijuana prohibition.
The vetoed bill would have made it a Class A misdemeanor to possess, manufacture, or sell consumable THC products. The rejection illustrates the contentious nature of the debate surrounding THC regulation. This conversation has heated up ever since Congress passed the 2018 federal law that lets states regulate hemp, a cousin of marijuana that can be processed to produce THC. THC-infused products have begun flooding the market in many of these states through well-known and widely used legal loopholes.
In Texas, the THC industry has burgeoned into a billion-dollar market, providing thousands of jobs and generating millions in revenue annually. Retailers throughout the state have been vocal about the economic benefits this sector brings, countering concerns raised by Republican lawmakers who have criticized these products as potentially dangerous due to insufficient federal oversight regarding their manufacturing processes.
Some states, including California, enacted age restrictions and potency limits on the amount of THC products. Texas remains one of the few states to prohibit all recreational marijuana use while allowing only a very limited medical marijuana program. Lawmakers are rightly struggling to navigate the complexities of THC regulation. They need to achieve the right balance between public safety and economic development.
Governor Abbott’s veto is in accordance with a wider pattern we’ve seen across the country in other states. Meanwhile, down in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have added age restrictions to Florida’s THC consumables. He made the case that such restrictions would penalize the many small businesses across the state.
The broader national conversation around regulating THC is changing quickly. Public attitudes are evolving and so too are legislative priorities, as states continue to feel the impact of the realities of cannabis legalization. As more states refine their policies on THC products, Texas remains at a crossroads, weighing the potential benefits of an expanding market against the concerns of safety and regulation.
