Global Ganja Report

In a last-minute move before the measure was to automatically become law, Gov. Greg Abbott on June 23 vetoed Senate Bill 3, which sought to ban the sale of all THC-laden products in Texas, whether Delta-8 and Delta-9. The bill would have also placed greater restrictions on CBD products, such as banning their sale to those under 21. Abbott has called for a special legislative session to revisit the question, which has pitted the hemp industry against the GOP establishment. Abbott's own Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was a key advocate of the "THC ban." Patrick bashed Abbott over the veto, saying he "wants to legalize recreational marijuana."

Meanwhile, Abbott signed House Bill 46 into law, expanding the harshly restrictive Texas Compassionate Use Program. Medical cannabis users will now be able to vape (although not smoke), dosage is increased from 1% to one gram of THC per package, and qualifying conditions are expanded to include chronic pain.

The question of essentially unregulated hemp-derived THC has divided the political establishment in other states as well. A bill strictly limiting sales of hemp-based consumables passed the Republican-controlled Florida legislature last year, only be vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who suggested that regulation would be a better approach than a ban. In Illinois, Democrats have been divided by the issue. Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker has pushed for stronger hemp regulation, but has been blocked by lawmakers from his own party. (Austin Statesman, Texas Tribune, CBS Texas, NYT, MPP)

Photo by Greenwich Mean Time

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