Exactly one month after Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a bill that would ban all THC and hemp-based products, the Texas Senate has introduced — and advanced — a nearly identical measure. Second time’s the charm, right?
“Feels a little like Groundhog Day,” Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), who introduced Senate Bill 5, said at a July 22 hearing.
Just days ago, the lawmakers convened for a special legislative session, called by Abbott to address two major priorities: flood infrastructure, in the aftermath of the devastating crisis that has now killed over 135 people in Central Texas; and the ever-controversial redistricting.
But also on Abbott’s hefty agenda: legislation to “comprehensively regulate” THC-based products, “all without banning a lawful agricultural commodity.”
Abbott seemingly walked back his desire to keep hemp legislation strictly regulatory, though — just yesterday, he reportedly told Community Impact in an interview that “the way that we protect the lives of children is to completely ban any type of THC product, any type of hemp and any type of marijuana from [children] being able to use it.”
The bill won’t target CBD and CBG-based products because they’re non-intoxicating. Forget about the gummies if this passes though, this new legislation will still target goods with THC concentrations exceeding the federally-legal 0.3%.
This new legislation proposes yet another near-total ban on hemp goods, and would criminalize the manufacturing, delivery, or distribution of these products. Possession would be considered a misdemeanor offense.
THC has been a bit of a sore spot for Abbott, who has butted heads with fellow Republicans — namely, his lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick — over the best answer to a rapidly growing industry. Abbott insists on treating THC like it’s alcohol, including strict regulation and banning use among children.
Meanwhile, Patrick, Perry, and other lawmakers firmly believe that a total ban is the only viable solution.
“I hear the comparison all the time, ‘Is (THC) worse than (alcohol)?’” Perry said at the Senate hearing this week. “I think it’s kind of having the argument, ‘Do I want to get bit by a cobra or do I want to get bit by a rattlesnake?’ They both kill you.”
“We’ve literally allowed an industry to spring up underneath our feet, screaming it’s legal when it’s not,” Perry continued. “It is not a regulatable situation. There is no way to stay ahead of the chemistry.”
“We’ll regulate it,” said Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood), as per CBS News. “We’ll regulate it by banning it. Because we already tried regulating it.”
Law enforcement officials also testified at the hearing, saying regulation would be “unattainable” and perhaps even tantamount to legalization.
“No amount of personnel or resources in a state this large, with this many locations, will ever be effective in regulating these dangerous products,” said Allen Chief of Police Steve Dye, who testified on behalf of the Texas Police Chiefs Association.
Senate Bill 5 passed the Senate State Affairs Committee with sweeping support, and now advances to the full chamber.
