An entire industry in Texas is holding its breath, as the clock ticks down on the 20-day stretch state statutes give the governor to sign Senate Bill 3 into law.
The bill would make it a misdemeanor to sell, possess or manufacture consumable products with tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
Early in this year’s legislative session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced his intention to rid the state of THC products of any kind as a top priority.
This intention became Senate Bill 3, which was sent to the governor on May 27, just ahead of the legislature’s adjournment, sine die.
One shop owner said that while they’re waiting for the governor to make up his mind, its business as usual for them.
“I’ve been here this whole time,” said 3rdEye Hemp Co. owner Daniel Weston, “Ever since it was legalized by the Texas Farm Bill in 2019… So, we’re kinda used to this by now.
In fact, according to Weston, it seems like nobody but Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants the THC ban.
“It’s likely to not go anywhere,” Weston said. “Like the flower ban in 2021, which flopped. That was DSHS trying to do that one, but it didn’t get anywhere, and that had a whole government entity behind it.
“This is just a handful of corporations and the Teacup Party trying to help them — because we’re their competitors.”
He said if SB3 becomes law, only CBD and CBG products would remain legal for open sale.
“I don’t really think the governor wants this,” he said. “I think it’s just Dan Patrick’s agenda, and he’s working for some big corporations, backed by the Tea Party.”
So, the shop owners are going about their business, hoping the deadline passes with no further action.
“We’re coming up pretty fast on the end of that,” he said. “I want to say there’s about half that time left, and I just don’t think there’s any real public support for this,” he said.
“They’ve been putting out a lot of propaganda, and trying to make this look like it’s about safety and children.
“But that’s just BS. All of our customers are 21-and-up, and we’re just small businesses like any other. We obey all the laws.
“I think one of the reasons this is happening is because big alcohol companies want to take over hemp beverages; then everything classified under that would be under control of the TABC.
“So they’re using their propaganda, and it’s really not working.
“There’s way too much support for this, but right now, it’s just a waiting game.”
Weston said, so far, SB3 hasn’t been all bad.
“If anything, we got a marketing boost from it,” he said, “The whole marijuana thing that been going on for years, and years; the prohibition on marijuana — nobody’s buying it anymore.
“Something like 80 percent of Texas wants cannabis to be legal, so they’re just wasting their time on all that propaganda nonsense.
According to the Associated Press, a total of 38 states and the District of Columbia have laws that allow the medical use of marijuana, and about 6 in 10 voters across the country said they favor legalizing recreational use nationwide.
Weston cited popular measures in other states like Florida and Tennessee to relax prohibitions on marijuana, noting that the industry in Texas is worth billions.
According to a recent report by Whitney Economics, the legal hemp-derived cannabis market in Texas is currently estimated at around $5.5 billion in sales, with retail revenue accounting for an estimated $4.3 billion.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, there are roughly 8,600 outlets registered to sell THC products, including many gas stations.
The Texas Tribune did a deep dive on the situation recently; you can read the whole article by following this link.
Texas reined in recreational THC for more medical marijuana | The Texas Tribune
