SPECIAL EDITION
In a surprising move late Sunday night, Governor Greg Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3, a proposed ban on THC, diverging from Texas lawmakers and effectively preserving the state’s rapidly growing hemp industry. This decision also thwarts a key legislative priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The veto was issued less than an hour before the deadline.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Abbott, in his statement on the veto, pointed to a recent similar attempt for a total ban on THC products in Arkansas that was struck down by a federal court. That bill then sat dormant for two years while a legal battle took place.
He went on to say that as a former Supreme Court Justice and Attorney General of Texas, he knew Senate Bill 3 would “be permanently invalidated by the courts” and would languish in the court system.
“That result must be avoided in Texas.”
Abbott went on to say the bill would have criminalized what federal law has legalized, potentially leading to criminal liability for Texas farmers and other citizens like pharmacists, veterans, and parents using FDA-approved medications. H said he believed the bill only invited “potential criminal entrapment” for Texas farmers.
“What’s a Texas farmer to do? Trust the federal government’s promise, or fear criminal liability from the state?”
He said Senate Bill 3 could be an unconstitutional taking of private property, as many Texans invested in the hemp industry relying on its legal status. A lawsuit challenging the bill on grounds of federal preemption and unconstitutional taking has already been filed in Travis County District Court.
Abbott acknowledged the real public safety issues posed by THC products, citing incidents involving minors. He noted that the 2019 House Bill 1325, following the federal Farm Bill, allowed hemp products with less than 0.3% THC to be legal and available without age restrictions, which led to “bad actors” creating and marketing dangerously high-concentration products, some mimicking candies
A special session of the Texas Legislature will convene in Austin on July 21 to revisit the bill, among 26 bills vetoed by Gov. Abbott.
Governor Abbott said crafting a new bill in the special session next month would create a new law that is legally sustainable and can be implemented this year. He suggested a regulatory framework similar to alcohol, with strict enforcement by agencies like the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
POTENTIAL REGULATIONS IN A NEW BILL
- Providing additional funding for law enforcement.
- Criminalizing selling or providing THC products to minors.
- Prohibiting sales near schools, churches, parks, and playgrounds.
- Requiring child-resistant, tamper-evident, and resealable packaging.
- Banning products marketed to children.
- Requiring permits for stores, restricting access to those under 21, and imposing strict penalties for non-compliance.
- Prohibiting other psychoactive substances in THC products.
- Mandating testing at every production phase.
- Permitting and food safety rules for manufacturing facilities.
- Fees to support robust enforcement and testing.
- Posting operator permits and warning signs.
- Limiting sales hours and prohibiting Sunday sales.
- Restricting THC amounts per product and limiting individual purchases.
- Requiring surgeon general-style warnings, ingredient disclosures, and scannable barcodes linking to test results on labels.
- Making fraudulent manifests or lab results felony offenses.
- Criminalizing public consumption, on-premises consumption, and open containers in vehicles.
- Granting local governments the option to prohibit or limit sales.
- Assessing excise taxes to fund oversight and enforcement.
Currently, Texas has no age restrictions or marketing regulations for products containing hemp-derived THC. While stores selling consumable hemp are required to register with the state, a mere three officials at the Department of State Health Services are responsible for inspecting over 8,500 locations statewide.
Governor Abbott had remained silent on this issue for months, consistently refusing to comment even as Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who presides over the state Senate, spearheaded a public campaign to dismantle the industry. Patrick’s efforts included directly confronting hemp store employees and holding press conferences featuring THC products.
“Passing a law is not the same thing as actually solving a problem.” — Gov. Abbott
WHAT SENATE BILL 3 WOULD HAVE PROPOSED
- Total ban on consumable THC products: SB 3 aimed to prohibit the possession, manufacture, and sale of all hemp-derived THC items in Texas, including delta‑8 and delta‑9 formats like gummies, beverages, vapes, and edibles.
- Criminal penalties: The bill would have criminalized these activities, with serious consequences including potential felony charges.
- Driven by safety concerns: It was a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who argued these products were “poison” and risked targeting children.
Political and Public Pressure
- Strong legislative support: SB 3 passed overwhelmingly in the Senate (26–5) and House (87–54).
- Lobbying campaign: The Texas Hemp Business Council, veterans, farmers, small business owners, and even former NFL player Ricky Williams urged Abbott to veto, collecting nearly 150,000 petition signatures and thousands of letters.
- Economic stakes: The hemp industry supports more than 50,000 jobs and generates up to $8 billion annually in Texas. Critics warned a ban could devastate this growing market.
- Public sentiment: Polls found a plurality of Texans, including nearly half of Republican primary voters, opposed the ban.
Abbott’s Veto Decision (June 22–23, 2025)
- Last‑minute action: Abbott exercised his veto power just before the June 22 midnight deadline, officially rejecting SB 3.
- Saved hemp industry: The veto preserves access to hemp‑derived THC products and protects tens of thousands of jobs.
- Political friction: This move fractured the unity between Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick, who had personally championed and campaigned for the ban.
Reactions and Impacts
Supporters of the Veto
- Texas Hemp Business Council: Praised Abbott for “choosing balance over overreach,” protecting $4.3 billion in annual sales and 53,000 jobs.
- Veterans, farmers, users: Many highlighted THC products as valuable for PTSD and pain relief, arguing prohibition would drive consumers to black markets or opioids.
- Industry experts: Commentators and libertarians argued SB 3’s extremely low THC threshold would eliminate nearly all hemp-derived products and incentivize unregulated markets.
Critics of the Veto
- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: Criticized the veto, warning law enforcement and families affected by addiction would feel “abandoned.”
- Safety concerns remain: Patrick and other advocates maintain that unregulated THC edibles pose real risks, particularly to minors.
THIS WAS A SPECIAL EDITION COVERING THE VETO OF SENATE BILL 3
ANOTHER POST WITH OTHER NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS WILL FOLLOW LATER THIS MORNING
