The Texas hemp industry (not to mention hemp companies across the US that sell into Texas) are relieved as efforts to enact an anti-hemp THC ban fail again. As I previously discussed, Texas Governor Greg Abbott vetoed SB3, a hemp-ban bill spearheaded by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, in a nail-biter last minute executive action in June. Governor Abbott then called a special legislative session with instructions to regulate hemp products, rather than ban them. That first special session ended without any new hemp legislation. The Governor then called a second special session.
Rather than working with the hemp industry for sensible regulations, Dan Patrick and a vocal minority of lawmakers ignored the Governor and the majority of Texans by continuing in their attempt to ram through another hemp ban-bill in the second special session. That effort ended last night, when Lt. Gov. Patrick conceded defeat. The second special session adjourned early without passing any hemp-related legislation. Lt. Gov. Patrick stated on X: “After long discussions last night between the Governor, Speaker, and me on THC, and continued hours of discussion today, we were not able to come to a resolution.”
Lt. Gov. Patrick’s defeat was clearly not due to disorganization, as the Texas GOP passed other legislation, including a controversial redistricting bill, that it deemed to be a priority. Rather, it was due to the victory of reason over fear-mongering and in part due to objections by members of his own party. What Patrick and other prohibitionists fail to realize is that hemp is wildly popular across the political spectrum. While Texans, including the state’s hemp industry, support reasonable regulations, campaigns to ban hemp are unpopular. Voters want access to hemp products, and they want small businesses in the hemp industry to thrive.
Although there is the possibility of the Governor calling a third special session, my contacts believe that is unlikely.
My friend Lukas Gilkey of Hometown Hero has been putting out great media reports as this fight has played out. Here’s his latest Youtube post discussing the Texas hemp industry’s victory this year over THC ban bills:
Thanks to everyone in the Texas hemp industry who has stood strong and opposed a hemp ban. At least for now, the country’s largest hemp market has escaped the jaws of defeat and can continue to thrive.
September 4, 2025