Key Takeaways:
– Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced plans for a ban on all consumable THC products.
– The proposal, to be introduced as Senate Bill 3, would affect the state’s booming hemp market.
– Patrick claims that some retailers have exploited current laws, selling products with unsafe levels of THC.
– Critics argue that current regulation is lackluster, resulting in a market flooded with unsafe products.
– The Texas hemp industry, however, disagrees and is concerned about the potential economic impact of such a ban.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently unveiled plans for the Texas Senate to impose a ban on all consumable forms of tetrahydrocannabinol, popularly known as THC. This announcement has sent ripples through the state, particularly in its burgeoning hemp industry.
Moving Towards a THC Ban
THC, the component behind the famous high associated with marijuana, is found in legal hemp products, but in substantially lower rates (0.3% or less). Should this ban be approved, it would drastically change the face of the Texas hemp market.
Patrick, who exercises considerable control over the Senate’s legislative agenda, has marked this issue as a top priority. For this reason, the proposed THC ban will be introduced as Senate Bill 3 in the upcoming legislative session.
Hemp Industry in Jeopardy?
Since allowing the sale of consumable hemp in 2019, Texas has seen an explosion of cannabis dispensaries around the state. Initially, this law aimed to revitalize Texas agriculture by allowing commercialization of hemp containing minuscule amounts of non-intoxicating delta-9 THC.
Patrick, however, believes that this goodwill strategy has been distorted by some retailers. They allegedly exploit legal loopholes to sell products with unsafe amounts of THC, sometimes even to minors.
According to Patrick, “Dangerously, retailers exploited the agriculture law to sell life-threatening forms of THC that are accessible easily.” He further stated that these unchecked retailers are causing a surge of hazardous THC products throughout Texas.
A Contentious Issue
While marijuana remains illegal in Texas, the current hemp market has its fair share of critics. Some argue that a lack of testing requirements, age restrictions, and regulation has led to a market overrun with potentially harmful products. These include THC-laden drinks, gummies, and vapes.
However, the Texas hemp industry holds a different viewpoint. They argue that the impact of delta-8, a variant of THC found in hemp, is minimal. According to them, banning delta-8 and delta-9 products would deal a severe blow to the industry and by extension, the state’s economy.
Future of THC in Texas
The THC ban bill will be driven by State Sen. Charles Perry, a Lubbock Republican. Perry was previously responsible for bringing the 2019 agricultural hemp bill forward.
Hemp-derived consumable products come in many different forms like baked goods, beverages, creams, gummies, and more. These products are usually derived from industrial hemp and contain various cannabinoids. The products are legally allowed to contain only up to 0.3% THC.
This distinction between lawful and illegal products lies in the source of the plant. While hemp and marijuana plants both belong to the cannabis family, marijuana plants contain high THC levels, and hemp contains minimal THC. With the ban on THC products on the horizon, the burgeoning hemp industry in Texas must brace itself for unprecedented changes.
The Texas legislature is set to reconvene on January 14, during which the fate of the proposed THC ban will be decided. Until then, the Texas hemp industry and its opponents will undoubtedly continue the debate, further highlighting the open-ended nature of this contentious issue.