Six years after Texas lawmakers passed legislation to commercialize hemp in 2019, Senate Bill 3 now seeks to ban all forms of products containing THC, with the exception of medical marijuana.
Safety concerns and regulatory issues in the hemp market have intensified the debate, particularly regarding delta-8 and delta-9 THC products. Law enforcement officials have raised concerns about mislabeled products containing THC levels far exceeding the legal limit of 0.3%.
Republican State Senator Charles Perry, the bill’s author, argued that the cannabis consumables industry has become “unreliable and unable to self-regulate” in a statement in the press.
The industry’s rapid growth has strayed from lawmakers’ original intentions, which were focused on developing industrial hemp applications rather than intoxicating products.
In an interview with FOX 4 news of Dallas, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller expressed a similar sentiment while acknowledging the significant economic consequences.
“The Legislature never intended to have recreational marijuana,” he said, “but now we have 8,000 businesses that we might put out of business. I hate to see anyone lose their life savings.”
The economic impact cannot be overlooked: the Texas hemp industry generates $8 billion in revenue annually and employs approximately 50,000 people statewide. Facing the threat of a complete ban, the industry advocates for stricter regulations instead, such as implementing age restrictions and requiring tamper-proof packaging.
Critics of the proposed ban further warn that prohibiting these products would likely drive consumers to the black market, potentially creating more severe public health and safety concerns than those the legislation aims to address.
However, lawmakers are considering making amends to Senate Bill 1505, which would expand access to medical marijuana by doubling the number of dispensing organizations that can legally sell medical marijuana from three to six. The bill would also allow for storage facilities to open more locations that would in turn improve delivery logistics. Furthermore, SB 1505 will increase the allowable THC concentration in medical cannabis.
As Senate Bill 3 moves forward, the fate of Texas’ hemp industry hangs in the balance between concerns over public health and personal freedom. Whatever the outcome, it may significantly reshape the landscape of Texas cannabis policies.
