Texas Senate approves bill to ban hemp-derived THC, while House lawmakers seek regulation or legalization.

Members of the hemp business predict they will receive more support in the House after the Texas Senate on Wednesday approved its second attempt to outlaw THC derived from hemp, setting the stage for a confrontation. Senator Charles Perry, a Republican from Lubbock, put forward Senate Bill 5, which received preliminary approval in a 20–9 vote and is set for a final vote soon.

Products that contain any measurable amount of any cannabinoid other than the non-intoxicating components of cannabis, cannabidiol, and cannabigerol, or CBD and CBG, would be completely prohibited by the bill. The bill would ban the majority of hemp products, even those considered legal under federal law.

Perry reiterated on Wednesday that the original intent behind hemp legalization was not to make THC widely available, and he believes most hemp-labeled products sold in Texas should be considered illegal under federal regulations. Additionally, he chastised those who claim that THC has therapeutic benefits, pointing out that it has never been authorized for such use.

Perry stated that Texans have never relied on gas station counters for their medical treatment. The Republican legislator also argued against Gov. Greg Abbott's proposal to regulate hemp similarly to alcohol, claiming that law enforcement lacks the resources necessary to oversee the alcohol sector, let alone the market for THC.