HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A bill that would ban nearly all THC products in Texas is set to take effect next year.
President Donald Trump signed the federal hemp bill into law as part of the spending bill that reopened the federal government this week.
This new law most impacts states like Texas, where marijuana has not been legalized.
By federal law, marijuana is illegal, but hemp is legal.
This new law changes the way the federal government classifies what THC is and what hemp is. Experts say it effectively criminalizes any amount of THC strong enough to get a person high.
The new regulations have a similar effect to a ban that some Texas Republicans, led by Lt. Gov Dan Patrick, worked to enact earlier this year.
In May, Patrick spearheaded legislation that would have banned any consumable hemp products with THC, but Governor Greg Abbott vetoed it.
The governor later issued an executive order to ban THC to minors and require ID verification for all customers, but the lieutenant governor slammed the order for not going far enough.
SEE ALSO: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issues executive order banning minors from THC products
Now, Patrick is celebrating this week’s federal decision, saying on social media it will “save a generation from getting hooked on dangerous drugs.”
Of Texas’ senators, John Cornyn voted in support of the federal hemp bill, while Ted Cruz voted no, saying states should regulate hemp and marijuana.
And amid the division, there’s also confusion.
“In a perfect world, a ban means it just completely goes away, but that’s unfortunately not the case,” said Jon Bowman, the owner of the Dallas-based Bluebonnet Labs. “If people want to find something, they usually do.”
Bowman said he is one of many THC experts who met with Governor Abbott this summer, prior to the veto.
He said the new federal law would shut down all legal THC sales in Texas because it so drastically lowers the threshold of THC allowed.
“The math just doesn’t work,” he said. “No one would make a product at that level that would be used for the D9 effect.”
ABC13 sent Bluebonnet Labs five different THC products from five different Houston stores for testing.
Bowman said one gummy, which is currently legal, would be 755 times the limit allowed by the new law.
But retailers in Texas aren’t currently required to test or even keep track of the THC products they sell.
The new law doesn’t specify how new regulations will be enforced.
And there are approximately 9,000 stores that sell THC products in Texas right now, according to Dr. Katie Harris, a drug policy fellow with Rice University.
“There is a responsibility for the state, like we see for alcohol and tobacco, to enact legislation in a way to protect public safety, not encourage heavy use, and at the same time, not criminalize something that millions of Texans do consume on a regular basis,” Dr. Harris said.
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Niko Travis is a dedicated health writer with a passion for providing clear, reliable, and research-backed information about medications and mental health. As the author behind TrazodoneSUC, Niko simplifies complex medical topics to help readers understand the benefits, uses, and potential risks of Trazodone. With a commitment to accuracy and well-being, Niko ensures that every article empowers readers to make informed decisions about their health.
