US President Donald Trump has signed a new federal hemp bill that will effectively ban nearly all THC products in Texas from next year onwards. The law, which was included in the spending bill to reopen the federal government, classifies what THC is and what hemp is, leading experts to warn that it would criminalize any amount of THC strong enough to get a person high.
The move has been welcomed by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who had led efforts to ban consumable hemp products with THC in Texas earlier this year. However, Governor Greg Abbott vetoed the legislation, and while he later issued an executive order banning minors from THC products and requiring ID verification for customers, Patrick claimed that Trump's decision went further.
Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz have expressed differing views on the bill, with Cornyn supporting it and Cruz opposing it, arguing that states should regulate hemp and marijuana. Amidst the division, there is confusion about how the new law will be enforced and what its impact will be for the state's 9,000 stores selling THC products.
According to experts, including Jon Bowman, owner of Bluebonnet Labs in Dallas, the law would effectively shut down all legal THC sales in Texas due to its strict threshold for allowed THC levels. One product tested by ABC13 was found to contain more than 755 times the limit set by the new law, highlighting the significant issue with enforcement.
Drug policy fellow at Rice University, Dr. Katie Harris, warned that while there is a responsibility for the state to protect public safety and not encourage heavy use of THC products, the current lack of regulation could have unintended consequences.
The move has been welcomed by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who had led efforts to ban consumable hemp products with THC in Texas earlier this year. However, Governor Greg Abbott vetoed the legislation, and while he later issued an executive order banning minors from THC products and requiring ID verification for customers, Patrick claimed that Trump's decision went further.
Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz have expressed differing views on the bill, with Cornyn supporting it and Cruz opposing it, arguing that states should regulate hemp and marijuana. Amidst the division, there is confusion about how the new law will be enforced and what its impact will be for the state's 9,000 stores selling THC products.
According to experts, including Jon Bowman, owner of Bluebonnet Labs in Dallas, the law would effectively shut down all legal THC sales in Texas due to its strict threshold for allowed THC levels. One product tested by ABC13 was found to contain more than 755 times the limit set by the new law, highlighting the significant issue with enforcement.
Drug policy fellow at Rice University, Dr. Katie Harris, warned that while there is a responsibility for the state to protect public safety and not encourage heavy use of THC products, the current lack of regulation could have unintended consequences.