In a move that could see the thriving CBD market in Texas go up in smoke, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has declared war on THC products, tapping into a crusade to curb what he perceives as rampant disregard for the law, KHOU reports. The Lone Star State's heated debate over hemp derivatives has reached a new zenith with Patrick leading the charge against retailers who he accuses of exploiting loopholes to peddle "dangerous" cannabis-related products.

Despite the federal classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug, Texas has witnessed the emergence of consumable products containing variants like delta-8 and delta-9, thriving under a cap of 0.3% THC content set by 2019 legislation intended to foster hemp agriculture. These products, ranging from smokable vapes to gummies and seltzers, have skirted on the fringes of legality Patrick supported by Senator Charles Perry, seeks to snuff with Senate Bill 3, Perry R-Lubbock is expected to sponsor which Patrick believes will garner "broad support in the Senate," and he expressed confidence in the House following suit, according to statements obtained by ABC13.

The legislative gears are already turning as Texas braces for its 2025 session with THC squarely in the crosshairs, and should Senate Bill 3 pass, Texans could find their access to these THC products unequivocally cut off. Patrick has framed the issue as a necessary intervention, voicing concerns about products luring children and exceeding the legal THC threshold.

Earlier this year, the Houston business THC Club found itself in hot water following a raid—investigators claimed the sold wares exceeded legal potency limits, although the business's attorney contested the accusation Patrick remains adamant about tightening the reins, stating, "We are not going to allow these retailers to circumvent the law and put Texans' lives in danger," and flagged the possibility of strong bipartisan Senate backing for the proposed measure, with an assumption of House cooperation to fast-track the bill into law, as reported by ABC13.

It's of note that the Lieutenant Governor's Office clarified the proposed blanket ban on consumable THC will not affect Texas' medical marijuana program, indicating a demarcation between recreational and medicinal cannabis narratives within the state's contested drug policy landscape.