Texas will not kill the state’s booming hemp THC industry after Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Sunday evening vetoed a bill to ban THC throughout the state. Championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) — who made banning hemp-derived THC his top priority for the year — Senate Bill 3 would have banned products containing any amount of THC, even when sourced from industrial hemp.

The governor was under intense pressure to veto the bill from hemp advocates, veteran groups, and business owners. Despite passing both legislative bodies and garnering support from most of the state’s conservative lawmakers, recent polling showed the proposed ban was not popular even among Republican voters. Advocates additionally said they delivered over 180,000 petition signatures and over 5,000 handwritten letters this month asking the governor to veto the proposal.

The veto came less than an hour ahead of the deadline for the governor’s decision on the issue.

Lt. Gov. Patrick attacked Abbott following the veto, writing on X:

“Throughout the legislative session, @GregAbbott_TX remained totally silent on Senate Bill 3, the bill that would have banned dangerous THC products in Texas. His late-night veto, on an issue supported by 105 of 108 Republicans in the legislature, strongly backed by law enforcement, many in the medical and education communities, and the families who have seen their loved ones’ lives destroyed by these very dangerous drugs, leaves them feeling abandoned.” — Patrick, in a social media post

The governor also decided on Saturday to sign into law a proposal expanding the state’s limited cannabis program to cover new qualifying conditions and cannabis delivery methods. Previously, the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) only allowed access to very low levels of THC, and for very few patients.

Changes to the program will include adding traumatic brain injuries, chronic pain, and a terminal illness or condition that requires hospice as qualifying conditions to the program. Additionally, the program will allow for vaporized or aerosolized medical cannabis delivery – smoking, however, will remain banned under the new law.

The bill also raises the number of dispensing organizations from three to 15, and allows retailers to manage satellite locations for securely storing medical cannabis for distribution.

“For too long, the existing Texas Compassionate Use Program has been severely limited, leaving countless Texans without the relief they desperately need. Texans have spoken, and their voices have been heard. HB 46 will expand access to medical cannabis, a relatively safe and effective treatment option that has long been sought by patients suffering from pain and several other serious medical conditions,” — Kevin Caldwell, Southeast Legislative Manager at the Marijuana Policy Project, in a press release

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