Abbott Getting Pressured to Veto THC Ban
Someone won't be riding "high."
Texas politics nerds are getting the “munchies” this session, with a controversial bill set to reach the governor’s desk. A bill banning THC/hemp passed overwhelmingly in both the House and Senate, thanks to it being a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. However, its future isn’t totally certain. Many people are pressuring Abbott to veto SB 3, from stoners, to business honchos, to medicinal users.
Via My San Antonio
The fate of the Texas hemp industry now lies in the hands of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott after the Texas House and the Texas Senate both passed a bill that would ban all cannabinoids other than CBD or CBG. This means possessing or selling cannabis products with up to 0.3% delta-9 THC that are currently legal—like gummies, beverages and THCa flower, or full-spectrum CBD products that contain trace amounts of THC—would be a criminal offense.
But many business owners and parents of children who rely on such hemp-derived products are sounding the alarm by pleading with the governor to veto, or reject, the bill that some are calling "dangerously wrong."
Senate Bill 3 was officially sent to Abbott's desk for final signing on Tuesday, May 27. If he signs the measure, it will dismantle the billion dollar hemp industry that many Texans have helped grown of since the creation of the state's consumable hemp program in 2020. Not only that, but it also runs the risk of greatly impacting thousands of small businesses that have secured licenses to sell consumable hemp products, including full-spectrum CBD, which contains small amounts of THC. In San Antonio, commercial real estate could take a $45 million dollar wallop if THC is banned, per the San Antonio Business Journal.
He’ll face pressure against vetoing, especially from Dan Patrick, who’s practically made the Texas Senate his harem. Patrick got rather testy with a random reporter while stumping for SB 3, even throwing a hemp snack bag at a reporter.
Why these antics over something nobody cares about? I highly doubt the man losing his home to property taxes, has a business struggling from our state’s DEI scams, or cannot find a job due to Texas-subsidized tech firms importing H1B hires from India is losing sleep over THC being legal.
Anyway, if Abbott vetoes the weed bill, he’d clash with Patrick and possibly cause a civil war within the establishment GOP.
So dear reader, what’s your analysis of the situation? Answer in our poll.
Would have been hilarious if reporters fought over the bag he threw
States that have legalized this stuff are having all kinds of unforeseen problems because of it. We don't need more intoxicants. People need to face their problems and deal with them head-on. Running from them, taking the easy way out, only makes them worse. Americans are spoiled and lazy. I hope Abbott keeps his spine this time, such as it is. But like all other issues, he will listen to his big donors and do their bidding.