Texas THC Ban Bill SB3 Gets Vetoed

The hemp industry scored a major win in Texas this year. One of the most debated and talked about bills in this year's legislative session has finally met its fate. SB3 has been vetoed.

In case you aren't aware or don't remember, SB3 was the bill that would have banned all products that contain THC. It would have destroyed an entire industry and made life very difficult for hemp farmers in the Lone Star State.

Governor Abbott waited until almost the bill's signing deadline late Sunday to take action on it. In the end, Governor Abbott vetoed it, forcing the Texas legislature to move in a different direction when it comes to hemp and THC products.

Why Abbott Issued a Veto For SB3

In his Veto Proclamation, Governor Abbott pointed out that the bill was already the target of lawsuits. There are good chances that the bill would be overturned, and that it could also wind up in a kind of limbo while its fate was decided in court.

He also points to the entire hemp industry, from retailers to hemp farmers in the Lone Star State. Hemp is a big industry now in Texas, and Abbott doesn't seem to be a fan of changing the rules on responsible business owners "in the middle of the game", as he put it in his proclamation.

What Happens Next for Hemp in Texas

This isn't the end of the discussion around THC products and hemp in Texas. Governor Abbott is calling legislators back to Austin to set up regulations. Abbott even states that these products should be regulated in a way similar to how alcohol is regulated.

The special session will take place in July, and Abbott wants the law created during it to be able to go into effect immediately.

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It's interesting that Governor Abbott chose this direction, considering that at one point during the debates over SB3, there were amendments suggested that would have moved the bill more towards regulation instead of a ban. Legislators decided against it.

Now we wait until July to see exactly what the hemp industry in Texas is going to look like. In the meantime, opponents of SB3 have a lot to celebrate.