A new bill aimed at banning all hemp products with any trace of THC has been filed in the Texas House, setting up a political clash as Governor Greg Abbott resists the move, advocating instead for measured regulation.
As the second week of the state’s special legislative session kicks off, tensions are mounting. A familiar debate has returned to the Capitol steps, this time with higher stakes and louder voices. Lawmakers are split—some want a full stop, others want a speed limit. No one agrees on how to police the booming hemp industry. Not even the top man in the Governor’s Mansion.
Lawmaker Files New Ban Bill Amid Industry Anxiety
The House bill, filed Monday by a Republican representative, mirrors legislation already on the Senate floor. Both versions aim to prohibit the sale of consumable hemp products containing any detectable level of THC—no matter how small.
Industry insiders call it an existential threat. Farmers and retailers across the state are bracing themselves, worried that livelihoods could evaporate overnight if the ban passes.
The bill doesn’t just target Delta-9 THC, the form most commonly associated with marijuana’s high. It casts a net so wide it includes trace levels of Delta-8, Delta-10, and even the tiniest THC residue found in full-spectrum CBD oils. One hemp retailer described it as a “total industry wipeout disguised as consumer safety.”
A single sentence buried deep in the bill is doing most of the damage:
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“A consumable hemp product may not contain any amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), detectable by any means.”
Governor Abbott Vetoed This Once — Why He’s Still Saying “Not So Fast”
Governor Greg Abbott made headlines earlier this year when he vetoed a similar THC ban during the regular session. His stance hasn’t budged. Speaking to The Texan last week, he said he’s looking for balance—not a ban.
“We want to make sure adults still have the liberty to be able to have access to non-intoxicating hemp-based products,” Abbott said. That’s not a full embrace of the hemp lobby, but it is a line in the sand. No trace of THC? That’s too far, he says.
This veto is part policy, part politics. Abbott’s stance keeps him aligned with a growing portion of the public who use CBD and other hemp derivatives for everything from chronic pain to anxiety. But he’s also trying to avoid looking “soft” on THC as border tensions and drug trafficking headlines spike.
Abbott has also faced pressure from veterans’ groups and senior advocates who say hemp products help manage PTSD, arthritis, and other conditions without the side effects of pharmaceuticals.
The Market at Stake: A Multi-Billion Dollar Hemp Economy in Limbo
Texas hemp is no cottage industry. Since the state legalized hemp under the 2018 federal Farm Bill and its own 2019 legislation, the sector has grown fast—faster than the state’s regulators can track, some say.
As of early 2024, the hemp-derived product market in Texas was valued at roughly $2.3 billion, according to data from Whitney Economics. The products sold range from gummies and tinctures to infused seltzers and even dog treats.
A ban on THC would leave hundreds of businesses with unsellable inventory, which some insiders estimate would cost the industry over $400 million in immediate losses.
| Impact Area | Estimated Economic Loss |
|---|---|
| Retail Revenue Loss | $180 million |
| Inventory Write-Off | $135 million |
| Supply Chain Impact | $90 million |
| Jobs at Risk | 7,200+ |
One hemp distributor based in Austin said, “If this passes, we’ll be done. We’ll have to lay off everyone by the end of the quarter.”
Confusion and Loopholes in Current Law Fuel Push for Clarity
Why now? That’s the question floating around the Capitol hallways. Proponents of the bill argue it’s about clarity and consumer safety.
They point to a regulatory gap—some THC-infused products being sold as hemp are, according to critics, “weed in disguise.” It’s legal under the current limit of 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight, but some lawmakers say that measurement means nothing in practice. A gummy with 0.3% THC can still get you high. It’s just wrapped in legal technicalities.
Two sentences in Texas Health and Safety Code currently define the entire legal distinction between hemp and marijuana. That razor-thin line is becoming impossible to enforce, argue ban supporters.
Some prosecutors have even stopped pursuing marijuana charges because lab testing THC content takes months, costs thousands, and often yields inconclusive results.
Hemp Retailers and Farmers Mobilise to Push Back Hard
The Texas Hemp Coalition, along with dozens of retailers and producers, has launched a frantic campaign to stop the legislation. Their message is blunt: regulate us, don’t erase us.
In a coordinated lobbying effort, hemp business owners are flooding lawmakers’ inboxes and social media feeds. Some are hosting “hemp open houses” to educate the public and press.
At one recent event in Houston, hemp store owners handed out gummies, information leaflets, and even lab test reports to passers-by. A banner read: “We’re legal. We’re tested. We’re Texan.”
In the words of one protest sign held by a CBD shop owner from San Antonio: “I didn’t fight cancer to have the state take away my medicine.”
The Coalition argues that banning all THC—even trace levels—would eliminate CBD oils used by thousands of Texans, including children with epilepsy who rely on broad-spectrum formulations.
Senate and House Could Still Drift Apart on Final Language
So what happens next? The House bill is likely to move quickly, but it may not survive the governor’s pen without big amendments.
The Senate remains firm. It passed the initial version of the ban last week with minimal opposition. The House could water it down, allowing trace amounts of THC. Then comes the standoff.
Observers expect late-night negotiations, closed-door meetings, and possibly a public hearing packed with hemp industry voices and emotional testimony.
It’s a tug-of-war between political optics and economic reality. Ban everything, and you risk jobs and lawsuits. Allow it all, and critics say you’re legalising weed without saying the word.
One Capitol staffer summed it up best: “No one wants to look soft, but no one wants to bankrupt half the state’s wellness industry either.”
