Government Shutdown Over: Same for THC in Texas

November 13, 2025 – A provision in the recently passed federal spending bill, signed into law by President Donald Trump, includes a significant ban on most consumable hemp-derived THC products. The measure effectively closes a “loophole” in the 2018 Farm Bill that had legalized hemp items containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. The new restrictions will take effect one year after enactment, giving businesses little time to adapt.

Legal hemp products would be limited to a total of 0.4 milligrams per container of total THC or any other cannabinoids with similar effects.

Texas hemp retailers say the ban threatens to devastate a thriving $8-billion industry that has supported thousands of jobs across the state. Shops that sell delta-8, HHC, and other hemp-based THC products—currently legal under state law—say the federal change could wipe out entire product lines overnight.

“This is a government overreach that will shut down small businesses while fueling the black market,” said one Dallas-area retailer.

Industry advocates argue that the bill’s language is overly broad and punishes responsible operators who have followed both state and federal guidelines. Supporters of the ban, however, say it closes a dangerous loophole that allowed psychoactive substances to be sold without adequate regulation.

The move reignites Texas’ ongoing debate over cannabis and hemp, with state lawmakers divided between total prohibition and tighter regulation.