Texas Passes THC Hemp Ban Amid Medical Marijuana Expansion

By Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS Cannabis News

AUSTIN, TX — (May 22, 2025) — In a dramatic move that could shake up the state’s multibillion-dollar hemp economy, Texas lawmakers have approved a bill banning the nonmedical sale of THC — the psychoactive component in cannabis — and sent it to Governor Greg Abbott (R) for final approval.

“If it gets you high, it is not legal anymore,” declared Rep. Tom Oliverson (R), who spearheaded the House version of the bill. The legislation effectively outlaws hemp derived THC products, which have flourished in the state since the legalization of consumable hemp in 2019.

The sweeping ban aligns Texas with states such as Colorado, Iowa, Arizona, Hawaii, and Alaska, which have already enacted similar restrictions on intoxicating hemp derivatives like Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC.

Ironically, the ban coincides with a major expansion of the state’s tightly controlled medical marijuana program, championed by Texas Republicans.

Under the newly passed measure, possession of hemp-based THC products will now carry harsher penalties than the possession of up to two ounces of marijuana. Critics say the move not only criminalizes previously legal products but also threatens thousands of Texas jobs.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R), a vocal supporter of the legislation, had warned that he would block the state’s budget unless the Senate’s companion bill (S.B. 3) advanced. “We cannot in good conscience leave Austin without banning THC,” Patrick said in a video address. “I’ve never been more passionate about anything.”

If signed into law, the bill could trigger what JRL CHARTS Cannabis News calls a “minor earthquake for the state’s economy.” According to a study commissioned by the Texas hemp industry, the sector generates over $5 billion annually and supports more than 53,000 jobs, paying an average salary of around $40,000 per year.

The Texas Hemp Business Council, which had advocated for tighter regulations instead of a blanket ban, has already pledged to fight the legislation in court. “This bill dismantles the legal hemp industry in Texas,” the organization said in a statement. “We’re left with no choice but to sue.”

Texas first legalized “consumable hemp” in 2019, following the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill that broadly legalized industrial hemp nationwide. However, the state never created comprehensive regulations or safety standards for hemp-derived THC products — a gap further widened by the FDA’s ongoing refusal to oversee hemp-based consumables.

As Texas veers toward a more restrictive cannabis policy, the future of its once-booming hemp market now hangs in the balance.

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