Will Texas Governor Greg Abbott veto THC ban? Here’s what he said Wednesday
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is still deciding whether to sign a ban on consumable THC products, amid pressure from the hemp business community to veto legislation that was approved by state lawmakers in May.
Abbott could reject the proposal, sign it into law or take no action, allowing the bill to become law without his signature. The governor told reporters on Wednesday that he’s “thoughtfully considering” the proposal on his desk.
“So, what that means is, I haven’t made a decision about what action I’ll take,” Abbott said.
Senate Bill 3 bans consumable hemp products that contain any cannabinoid other than CBD or CBG, which do not produce a high, and creates new crimes for possessing or distributing the products. The responds to a booming consumable hemp industry in Texas that some, like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, have said is dangerous and largely unregulated.
The legislation does not impact Texas’ medical marijuana program, which lawmakers expanded this legislative session. That bill is also on Abbott’s desk.
Members of the hemp industry have called on Abbott to reject the bill. The Texas Hemp Business Council supports the enforcement of existing regulations and new rules like child resistant packaging and age restrictions over a ban. The advocacy group has warned that prohibition will lead to an underground market.
The products, which can produce a high similar to marijuana, are sold as edibles, beverages and vapes, and became readily available after Texas legalized hemp production in 2019. They are used recreationally and by people seeking therapeutic benefits for conditions like anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain.
“We care about improving the daily quality of their lives,” Asad Shalami, owner of ZAR Wellness, a dispensary with 18 locations across Texas, previously told the Star-Telegram. “People want a natural alternative to pills to get relief from inflammation, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Abbott was asked Wednesday about adults who use the products as a replacement for alcohol or other drugs and pain relief and whether there’s a way to approach THC other than a ban.
“What you brought up, in a way, is what I’ll have to go through,” Abbott said. “ First, I haven’t tackled this one yet. I’ve got a lot to do before I tackle it. But in short, I’m going to be, I’m going to give it the thoughtful consideration from every angle that it deserves.”
There are people on both sides of the issue who have concerns, Abbott said.
“And those concerns need to be looked at,” Abbott said. “This is a time when I will, once again, put on my judicial hat and weigh arguments from both sides and figure out a pathway forward.”
There are more than 8,600 licensed hemp retail locations in Texas as of June 3, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. That includes more than 200 locations in Fort Worth and more than 500 in Tarrant County.
The 2019 law distinguished between illegal marijuana and legal hemp, both of which come from the cannabis plant. Per the law, hemp has a delta-9 THC concentration below 0.3% by dry weight. Anything above that threshold is marijuana.
This legislative session’s ban was a top priority of Patrick, who has vocally criticized the products, some of which have been found to contain more than the legal THC limit to be considered hemp.
“I named SB 3 a major legislative initiative of mine because I will not allow retailers to circumvent the law and put Texans’, and especially children’s, lives in danger,” Patrick said in a March statement, after the bill passed out of the Texas Senate.
During a May 28 news conference, Patrick did not directly say whether he expects Abbott to sign the ban into law. The policy is expected to be challenged in court if signed.
Abbott said he hasn’t had many conversation with Patrick about the proposed ban.
“He and I work very well together, and I would say that we worked better together this session than any other session that we worked together, and I think that process will continue,” Abbott said. “But, what he does know, is the way that I thoughtfully approach issues and put in the time that’s going to be needed to address it appropriately.”
This story was originally published June 11, 2025 at 1:11 PM.
