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THC ban edges closer to finish line, lawsuits expected | Texas

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-23 17:59:00


The Texas legislature passed SB 3, a bipartisan bill aiming to ban THC sales, a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick who cited dangers of unregulated THC targeting children, including sales near schools. The bill prohibits consumable hemp products containing THC while allowing regulated CBD and CBG products. It increases legal protections by banning sales to under-21s and enforcing strict packaging and labeling standards. Opponents, including the hemp industry and some lawmakers, warn it could cause job losses, revenue decline, and limit veterans’ access to THC for relief. Hometown Hero plans to sue to block the ban, advocating for regulation over prohibition.

(The Center Square) – The Texas legislature has passed with bipartisan support a bill that would ban Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from being sold in Texas.

It’s a legislative priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s, who’s been advocating for the ban for months. The Senate passed SB 3 earlier in the session. The House just passed its version. Different bill versions need to be ironed out before the final bill is sent to Gov. Greg Abbott.

The bill faces strong opposition from the hemp industry, which is expected to sue to stop it from going into effect.

“Since 2019, retailers across Texas have exploited a state agriculture law to sell life-threatening, unregulated forms of THC to Texans, including children,” Patrick said. After conducting his own investigation, he found that the stores often target children and sell to them, with many stores located next to public schools – even though the products are only permitted to be sold to individuals over age 21. In one shop, they were openly selling gummies with 750 milligrams of THC, he said, “which is powerfully strong.”

Ahead of the House vote, Patrick published a video explaining the dangers of THC, saying there were 8,000 THC smoke shops and stores in Texas, many of which are located within 1,000 feet of public schools.

“THC is being sold to school children all across Texas,” he said. It isn’t regulated and “No one knows what’s in it. And it’s more powerful … than what you could buy from a drug dealer on the street. … They’re poisoning our children and we must ban it. We can’t regulate it. We don’t have enough police to check every store when there’re 8,000 of them.”

Speaking in support of the bill earlier this year, state Sen. Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso, said, “When you look at the data, the Texas Poison Control Network reported a 495% increase in marijuana related calls involving children aged 5 and under between 2017 and in 2022. In 2017, before Texas deregulated hemp those calls made up 4.8% of all cases.”

Earlier in the legislative session, Patrick held a news conference at which mothers testified about their children who died or were seriously mentally injured from THC, suffering psychosis, psychotic breaks, and needing antipsychotic medication to survive. At hearings held during the legislative session, doctors and law enforcement officers testified to the danger of THC in candy, sweets, chips and flavored vape products that they argue cause addiction, suicidal ideation, depression and anxiety disorders.

SB 3 creates a mechanism to monitor and regulate hemp production and bans the sale of all consumable hemp products that contain THC in Texas. Once the bill becomes law, only consumable hemp products that contain cannabidiol (CBD) or cannabigerol (CBG) will be legal in Texas and must comply with a strict regulatory framework.

SB 3 prohibits the purchase of consumable hemp products by anyone under age 21, prohibits marketing them to minors and requires them to be properly labeled and placed in tamper-evident, child-resistant, and resealable packaging. The bill also creates several new criminal offenses to prevent the sale of THC, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision, according to the bill analysis.

The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 27-4; the unofficial vote tally in the House was 87-54.

Those opposing the ban argue it would prevent veterans from having access to THC products, cause roughly 50,000 people to lose their jobs and reduce state sales tax revenue by more than $256 million in addition to local tax revenue losses.

Austin-based Hometown Hero says it will sue to fight the ban.

“We understand and emphasize with all of the Texans who would suffer as a direct result of SB3,” it said. “Hundreds of thousands of Texans and veterans use hemp-derived THC for relief every day, yet lawmakers proceeded with a full ban with that knowledge, rather than regulating the industry. We will do everything in our power to ensure that this ban doesn’t take effect, and are putting all of our resources into a lawsuit to do just that. We’ve fought for this industry, this community, and Texans rights to access these products for nearly a decade and we won’t stop now.”

State Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, argued the bill will kill small businesses, destroy $1.6 billion worth of wages overnight and “directly attacks Texas farmers, manufacturers and small businesses.” Instead of regulating the industry, he says a “total ban tells Texans what they can and cannot purchase or possess in a legal market, restricting personal freedom and ignoring the will of the majority of Texans.”

The post THC ban edges closer to finish line, lawsuits expected | Texas appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

This article primarily reports on the Texas legislature’s passage of a bill banning THC sales, presenting the positions of key political figures, proponents, and opponents without overt editorializing. The language largely reflects the viewpoints of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other supporters emphasizing public safety and protecting children, which aligns with conservative and law-and-order framing common in center-right discourse. Opposition voices, including industry groups and some Democrats, are also included, highlighting economic and personal freedom concerns. The article thus conveys ideological perspectives from both sides but leans slightly toward the conservative viewpoint by giving prominence and detailed coverage to the bill’s justification and Republican advocates.

News from the South - Texas News Feed

Georgetown wildlife rehab caring for more than 500 animals, many taken in after Texas floods

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www.kxan.com – Abigail Jones – 2025-07-10 12:34:00

SUMMARY: Devastating floods in Texas have caused significant damage and at least 120 deaths, with many still missing. Central Texas wildlife is struggling too. All Things Wild Rehabilitation in Georgetown is caring for over 500 animals affected by the floods, including orphaned, injured, and displaced wildlife. The nonprofit urgently needs donations, volunteers, and more land to continue its work. They have already admitted nearly as many animals in 2025 as all of last year, emphasizing the ongoing impact of extreme weather. All Things Wild provides extensive care and safely releases animals back into natural habitats. They encourage public support and offer guidance for reporting injured wildlife.

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The post Georgetown wildlife rehab caring for more than 500 animals, many taken in after Texas floods appeared first on www.kxan.com

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News from the South - Texas News Feed

Louisiana woman ‘blessed’ to be alive after being struck by lightning outside her home

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www.kxan.com – Ethan Goode – 2025-07-09 22:15:00

SUMMARY: Rebekah Prevost of Baton Rouge was struck by lightning on July 3 while running from her vehicle to her home during a storm. The lightning hit a cedar tree near her house, traveled through the ground, up her foot, and exited her head. She sustained a broken jaw on both sides, a burn on her left hand, bruised knees, a ruptured ear membrane, a scalp injury, and burnt hair. Prevost was hospitalized for four days and is now recovering with ongoing pain and fatigue. Her recovery will take six to eight weeks, requiring rest and soft foods. A GoFundMe has been set up to assist with her medical expenses.

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The post Louisiana woman 'blessed' to be alive after being struck by lightning outside her home appeared first on www.kxan.com

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News from the South - Texas News Feed

Texas flood disaster death toll continues to climb

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www.youtube.com – FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth – 2025-07-09 18:23:00

SUMMARY: The Texas flood disaster death toll has risen to 118, with over 170 still missing, mostly in Kerr County, which suffered severe destruction including 36 children among the fatalities. Officials face growing scrutiny over delayed flood warnings and the lack of a flood alert system. Rescue crews continue to work tirelessly amid debris piles along the Guadalupe River. A local father with his three sons shared a harrowing survival story after quickly evacuating their flooded RV. Governor Greg Abbott ordered flags at half-staff. Recovery efforts will take months or years, with more than $3 million raised for relief. Questions remain about preparedness and response delays.

The death toll in the Texas flood disaster has climbed to 118. More than 170 people are still missing. Officials in Kerr County, which faced the worst of the destruction, said 95 people were found dead there. Including 36 children. City and county leaders say their crews have been working non-stop. Working through their off days to locate the missing.

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