A bill banning THC products in Texas passed in the Texas House late Wednesday night—and now advocates and business owners are requesting a hail mary for the hemp industry in the form of a veto from Gov. Greg Abbott when the legislation hits his desk.
"We urge Governor Abbott to reject CSSB 3 and protect the tens of thousands of hardworking Texans, including veterans like Dave Walden, who rely on hemp-derived cannabinoids for their wellness," wrote the Texas Hemp Business Council following Wednesday's vote.
Late Wednesday, Texas House lawmakers gave preliminary approval to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's priority proposal to ban all products containing THC—effectively ending the multi-billion-dollar hemp industry.
Senate Bill 3 would also place a criminal penalty of up to a year in jail on those caught in possession of hemp products with any amount of THC. This would double down on the current state law, which outlines a lesser penalty for possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana.
Lukas Gilkey, chief executive of Hometown Hero, a manufacturer of hemp-derived products, said the fight for THC was "not over."
"Immediately, we are going to be prepping for a lawsuit. Texas Hemp Business Council has resources allocated for this specific purpose," Gilkey said in an X post.