Texas Gov. Abbott Blocks THC Ban, Preserves Booming Industry Amid Calls for Regulation
In a move that surprised both sides of the aisle, Texas Governor Greg Abbott vetoed a bill on Sunday that would have banned all THC consumables statewide, saving the multi-million dollar industry —just days after signing off on a law requiring all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments.
THC Market Survives, Thanks to Last-Minute Veto
The vetoed bill would have criminalized the possession, sale, or manufacture of all THC consumables—products derived from hemp and sold legally across Texas in spite of its strict marijuana laws. It also would have been one of the harshest bans in the country, wiping out the state’s legal THC market in one stroke.
Supporters of the ban argued these products are dangerous due to weak oversight, but Abbott rejected the full prohibition model. Instead, he echoed what Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said last year: that such restrictions could harm small businesses and economic growth. Retailers and advocates also pointed to thousands of jobs and millions in revenue that would be lost.
While Texas still prohibits all recreational marijuana use, the survival of its legal THC market—thanks to Abbott’s veto—shows that even in red states, the conversation is shifting from prohibition to regulation.
