Latest THC Bill Moves to Texas House

July 31, 2025 – Senate Bill 5, authored by State Senator Charles Perry (R–Lubbock), aims to significantly restrict the availability of THC-containing hemp products in Texas. Passed by the Senate on a 20-9 vote, the bill would ban the manufacture, sale, and possession of consumable hemp products containing any form of THC, including delta-8 and delta-9 variants. However, it would still permit the sale and use of products containing only non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD or CBG.

“The only hemp product that’s going to be out there is nonintoxicating hemp, which is below three milligrams of THC,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said.

Supporters argue the bill is necessary to close legal loopholes that have allowed intoxicating hemp-derived products to proliferate in gas stations and smoke shops across Texas. Perry, defending the bill on the Senate floor, noted that while the law doesn’t criminalize users directly, “Regulation is decriminalization,” suggesting that tighter regulatory oversight can effectively shape market behavior without overwhelming law enforcement.

Opponents of the bill, including some in the hemp industry and criminal justice reform advocates, warn that the ban could hurt small businesses and push THC products back into the unregulated black market. They argue that consumers should have access to regulated, tested hemp products rather than risk untraceable alternatives. The bill now moves to the House for further consideration.