Texas Hemp Industry Awaits Critical Court Ruling as Injunction Hearing Concludes
A multi-billion-dollar industry is holding its breath today as a Travis County District Court judge is expected to issue a decision that will determine the immediate future of smokable hemp products across Texas.
For anyone else wondering where the Friday at 5 pm deadline comes from https://t.co/O5mfjDLRxG
— Nathan Bernier (@KUTnathan) May 1, 2026
Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle is presiding over a high-stakes injunction hearing in Travis County’s 261st Civil District Court, following a three-day proceeding that wrapped up this week. The plaintiffs — seven Texas businesses and two trade associations, including the Texas Hemp Business Council and Hemp Industry & Farmers of America — are asking the court to issue a longer-lasting injunction that would keep parts of the state’s new hemp rules on hold while their lawsuit against state health regulators plays out, a case that could take years to resolve.
BREAKING:
BREAKING: Smokable hemp can stay on store shelves across Texas after Travis County judge grants temporary injunction that also freezes sharply higher licensing and registration fees. https://t.co/2psX5g3e5T
— Nathan Bernier (@KUTnathan) May 1, 2026
“This decision is not the end of the fight. The State of Texas is expected to appeal, and additional hearings are likely. At its core, this case is about a bigger question: who gets to decide hemp policy in Texas—lawmakers or state agencies?” — Texas Cannabis Coalition
At the center of the dispute are new rules from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) that took effect March 31, 2026, and changed THC measurement to a “total THC” standard that includes THCA, rendering many previously legal smokable products non-compliant with the state’s 0.3% delta-9 THC definition of hemp. The rules also introduced dramatically steeper licensing fees. Annual fees for hemp retailers jumped to $5,000 per location, up from just $150.
On April 10, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble granted a temporary restraining order against the new testing requirements, effectively allowing smokable hemp products back on shelves. That order was later extended to May 1, buying the industry a narrow window to make its case before Judge DeSeta Lyttle.
The legal argument from the hemp industry frames the fight in constitutional terms. Attorney Amanda Taylor argued the dispute is “decidedly a separation of powers case,” contending that state health officials overreached their delegated rulemaking authority into the territory of the legislature. Industry advocates stress that Texas lawmakers legalized hemp in 2019 and that agencies cannot unilaterally redefine it.
The state sees things differently. Lawyers from the Texas Attorney General’s Office argue that regulators are not banning hemp, but clarifying how THC should be measured so businesses cannot sell products that become far more mind-altering when smoked, vaped, or heated.
The economic stakes are enormous. The industry cited an $11 billion economic impact in Texas in 2025, and individual business owners say the rules could be devastating. One plaintiff, Melanne Carpenter of Serenity Organics, put it bluntly: “Taking 40% of my business away and then making me pay $4,845 more is extreme.”
Late last year, Texas Original opened the largest medical marijuana grow house in the state.
— Nathan Bernier (@KUTnathan) April 30, 2026
The new 75,000-square-foot headquarters on FM 969 in Bastrop is almost ten times the size of their previous facility. https://t.co/KUePe2aq1c pic.twitter.com/cWdk4ghySO
The rules originated from a Governor Greg Abbott executive order issued in September 2025, after Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3 — which would have banned hemp containing any amount of THC — and the legislature subsequently failed to pass a less restrictive alternative during special sessions.
Either side could appeal whatever ruling is issued, but the outcome will have sweeping consequences for the Texas hemp industry and for consumers who have come to rely on easy access to cannabis products.
Waiting for McConaughey to speak out against Texas' weird, stranger danger THC ban pic.twitter.com/hfgzvW91Wo
— Evil MoPac (@EvilMopacATX) June 11, 2025
Sources:
- KUT News / Austin’s NPR Station: https://www.kut.org/business/2026-04-29/austin-tx-texas-hemp-industry-lawsuit-cannabis
- KERA News: https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2026-04-30/austin-tx-texas-hemp-industry-lawsuit-cannabis
- KXAN (Nexstar): https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/hemp-industry-in-court-to-argue-for-an-extended-pause-on-intoxicating-hemp-ban/
- Houston Public Media: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/court/2026/04/20/549315/state-hemp-rules-are-currently-blocked-a-court-will-decide-this-week-whether-to-extend-the-ban/
- Texas Tribune / TPR: https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2026-04-21/judge-rules-to-temporarily-block-texas-smokeable-hemp-ban
- The Dallas Express: https://dallasexpress.com/state/texas-hemp-war-why-a-courtroom-battle-in-travis-county-could-change-everything/
- KTSM (Nexstar): https://www.ktsm.com/news/texas-politics/future-of-texas-hemp-uncertain-in-thc-fight-were-all-still-very-anxious-and-nervous/
Five people have been killed in a small plane crash in Wimberley.
A powerful line of severe thunderstorms swept through the Austin area Thursday afternoon, bringing heavy downpours, hail, and flash flooding to parts of Central Texas — and the threat isn’t over yet.
Cool time-lapses of the thunderstorm hitting Austin. @fox7austin pic.twitter.com/KeTdchL4s9
— Chris Walker (@WalkerATX) April 30, 2026
The storms briefly brought rain, wind, hail, and lightning to the Austin area, triggering a Severe Thunderstorm Warning that included the cities of Austin, Lakeway, and Buda.
At 1:53 PM CDT, 2 SE Rollingwood [Travis Co, TX] Public reports Tstm Wnd Dmg. Social media video from the Zilker neighborhood of downed tree limbs at least 3 to 6 inches in diameter. Time estimated via radar. #txwx https://t.co/z05CWzsSKh pic.twitter.com/9Ldi4I012c
— IEMBot EWX (@iembot_ewx) April 30, 2026
Powerful winds and hail in the Zilker neighborhood of Austin earlier as the severe storm moved through.
— Hunter Williams (@Hunt_Wx) April 30, 2026
Video from Robert Gonzales. pic.twitter.com/uhCVQqY8yn
Street flooding and storm sewer blowing on South Lamar near Barton Springs. #atxwx @TravisCOSW pic.twitter.com/qIYCILMqwJ
— Brittany Staffield (@bgonzalez629) April 30, 2026
Video from Barton Springs Road just as the hail began:
This is at East Riverside & I-35 near Lady Bird Lake. Luckily the car and pedestrian made it through, but a friendly reminder to turn around, don't drown! ☔Video courtesy of: Diana Zamora pic.twitter.com/Xx21e7qlW2
— Libbi Farrow (@LibbionFOX7) April 30, 2026
Pooling water at I-35 & Cesar Chavez
— Kristen Currie (@KristenCurrieTV) April 30, 2026
🎥: Maria Orrick | #Austin pic.twitter.com/yuZkpFZL6I
Would this scooter still work? Flooding at Riverside yesterday 📸Courtney Wiederkehr @fox7austin pic.twitter.com/nYpfm8t9Rn
— Chris Walker (@WalkerATX) May 1, 2026
A Flood Watch is in effect for all of the Austin-area through Friday evening. Rain and storms will increase in coverage overnight into Friday morning. Rounds of rain and storms will continue through the day on Friday.
— Hunter Williams (@Hunt_Wx) May 1, 2026
There won’t be flooding everywhere. In fact, most of us just… pic.twitter.com/1wMADXCKuu
MORE ON TODAY’S FORECAST CAN BE FOUND FURTHER DOWN THIS POST IN WEATHER
With Lake Pflugerville rising from historic lows after pipeline repairs, the city will begin scaling back emergency water restrictions today. (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson talks about the upcoming budget process and about a discussion heating up surrounding a potential 2026 bond.
Meanwhile, the City of Austin outlines its plans for consolidation of its IT department.
The Austin City Council held a special joint meeting of its Public Safety and Mobility committees to address concerns about autonomous vehicles interfering with first responders — concerns that came to a head after video surfaced showing one of Waymo‘s robotaxis blocking an ambulance responding to a deadly mass shooting in Austin last month. Austin firefighters reported that as many as five Waymo vehicles became confused and stopped at 6th and Guadalupe, stacking up traffic and forcing ambulances to be diverted.
Disappointed Waymo didn’t show up to yesterday’s Public Safety & Mobility meeting. People deserve transparency when it comes to safety on our streets.
— Council Member Zo Qadri, District 9 (@CMZoQadri) April 30, 2026
This isn’t partisan, it’s public safety. Reach out to your reps and to Waymo. Accountability only happens if we demand it. pic.twitter.com/R5TL8JkeHL
Here’s a clip from yesterday’s Public Safety & Mobility Committee meeting.
— Council Member Zo Qadri, District 9 (@CMZoQadri) April 30, 2026
A quick look at the conversations happening around safety, innovation, and how these technologies operate on our streets. This work is ongoing, and it matters for our community. pic.twitter.com/hD9XZvPKTh
Travis County Judge Andy Brown painted an ambitious picture of a county investing its way to resilience Thursday night, highlighting major commitments in public safety, early childhood education, and economic development during his 2026 State of the County address. (CBS Austin)
Steady rain this morning caused some traffic problems.
A crash on Northbound Interstate 35 near Old San Antonio Road was causing backups.
Another crash on Northbound I-35 where a white SUV crashed into the side wall and spun around near Exit 223 A.
A multi-vehicle crash early Thursday injured several people.
Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura says the district is pushing back the date to announce a summary of potential budget cuts from May 1 to May 5.
FOLLOW @AUSTINJUSTICE ON X
Murder is falling nationwide, and that's a nice headline.
— Austin Justice (@AustinJustice) April 30, 2026
But cities aren't moving together. Baltimore cut its rate 60%. Philly only have of that. Cities like Austin significantly trailing the national decline average. Milwaukee's went up 42%.
Causal questions live in the… pic.twitter.com/PwR4Noh4dQ
Murder is down nationally. But the variance between cities is enormous when comparing each to the national downward trend. pic.twitter.com/v4NqmbMziB
— Austin Justice (@AustinJustice) April 30, 2026
The 2026 ACL Fest lineup is expected to be released at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 5, and tickets drop at noon the same day.
WEATHER
THURSDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
THURSDAY’S PRECIPITATION
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
A raging Shoal Creek downtown next to the Austin Public Library after Thursday’s storm.
The Eastland family, owners of Camp Mystic, announced Thursday they are withdrawing their application to renew the camp’s operating license — meaning the all-girls Christian camp along the Guadalupe River will not open this summer.
The decision marks a striking reversal of the camp owners’ determination to reopen, coming after months of intensifying outrage from Texas lawmakers and the families of the 27 young campers and counselors killed when floodwaters swept through the camp on July 4th of last year. Multiple criminal and civil inquiries into the deadly flooding remain ongoing, including a wrongful-death lawsuit.
CiCi and Will Steward of Travis County lost their daughter Cile. Her body has still not been found,
The Steward family calls into question the Eastlands motives for withdrawing their license application — saying they only pulled it because they knew the state would deny it. https://t.co/1cPemvMHyo
— Adam Schwager (@schwagerTV) April 30, 2026
I sent a request to @GovHotWheels_TX today asking for a special session to fix the camp safety legislation that was recently passed and causing massive problems for camps across Texas.
— Wes Virdell, TX State Rep (@wesvirdelltx) April 30, 2026
We are short on time to fix the bill before summer, and I am receiving calls from camps on a… pic.twitter.com/3K3GFUubfD
Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Board to implement maximum feasible premium reductions for retired educators in the TRS-Care Medicare Advantage plan while preserving the fund’s long-term stability.
I have directed the Teacher Retirement System to reduce the cost of healthcare insurance for our retired teachers.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 30, 2026
When I became Governor, the program was in a so-called death spiral and had $1 billion shortfall.
Now the program is strong and last year provided retirees a…
James Broadnax, 37, was executed by lethal injection on Thursday evening following the U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of a final appeal based on his co-defendant’s confession.
Pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m., Broadnax used his final statement to maintain his innocence in the double murder conviction while simultaneously asking the victims’ families for forgiveness.
James Broadnax was just executed by the people of Texas even though another man confessed to the killings and DNA evidence makes it clear he was not the shooter.
— Rep. John Bucy III (@BucyForTexas) May 1, 2026
The crime was heinous. This execution was too.
Blind vengeance is not justice. James, and Texans, deserve better. pic.twitter.com/fUMYerYptz
Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton are in a close race, with both sides waiting for President Trump to weigh in.
On April 29, on a party line vote, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Louisiana v. Callais, to strip one of the most consequential protections against discrimination in our elections—Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The ruling enables years of racial inequality to come, further eroding fair representation and the equal rights of Black and brown voters in the South. To hear more about the case and how it relates to Texas, we’re joined by an attorney who worked on the Louisiana v. Callais case, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) attorney Victoria Wenger, and also by Texas Civil Rights Project Voting Rights Outreach Coordinator La’Dereka Sylvan.
(Episode from April 30, 2026)
An Austin judge on Thursday heard arguments in the long-running legal fight over whether conspiracy theorist Alex Jones‘ media empire can be sold to The Onion.
SPORTS
NHL PLAYOFFS: Broken ice.
Quinn Hughes led Minnesota to its first playoff series victory in 11 years, scoring twice in the Wild’s 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 6 on Thursday night, ending the Stars’ season in disappointment.
Minnesota will face Presidents Trophy winner Colorado in the second round. The Avalanche have not played since sweeping Los Angeles on Sunday.
NBA PLAYOFFS: It’s do or die tonight for the Houston Rockets.
Game 6 @ OUR HOUSE 🔥
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 30, 2026
Friday. 8:30PM. pic.twitter.com/RjhA6PppEa
MLB SCOREBOARD: The Houston Astros split a doubleheader in Baltimore Thursday.
ON THE SCHEDULE
COLLEGE BASEBALL: The Texas Longhorns are hosting Mississippi State this weekend but tonight’s game may be in doubt given the weather forecast.
Hop in and travel with us to the tiny Texas town of Fischer with rich German roots and a hankering for nine-pin bowling. It’s a community hotspot that’s stood the test of time… Enter a time capsule of laughter, gutter balls, and chalk dust.
