In a surprising last-minute move, Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed bill Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) this past Sunday. The bill, championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, was effectively a blanket ban of all THC and hemp-derived products in the state of Texas that would have taken effect this September.
SB 3
Authored by Senator Charles Perry (R–Lubbock), SB 3 would amount to a blanket ban of THC – the essential compound in marijuana – and hemp-derived products containing Delta-8 and Delta-9 cannabinoids in Texas – prohibiting the sale, manufacture, and possession of such products; the bill would have still allowed for non-intoxicating, non-psychoactive compounds CBD and CBG.
Furthermore, the bill would have imposed harsher criminal penalties for possession of THC products as a Class A misdemeanor with fines up to $4,000 and a year in jail. SB 3 According to ABC News, the bill “would have been one of the most restrictive THC bans in the country“.
The Texas Senate passed the SB 3 bill earlier this spring at a vote of 24 to 7. In May 2025, the bill passed the House at an 87 – 54 vote.
The Texas THC ban has been the subject of major publicity in the past few months. Its biggest cheerleader being Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Citing public health concerns, including THC-induced mental illness and youth access, Patrick has been the most vocal governing voice behind the bill calling it one of the “top five” bills of his career.
Opposition to the Ban
Opposition to SB 3 has been largely bipartisan. According to Houston Chronicle, citing the Trump-aligned Fabrizio, Lee & Associated pollster, 70% of Texans are in favor of legal THC – permitted strict age restrictions and proper warning labels; 44% of Republicans oppose SB 3 in contrast to the 31% of Republicans in support of the bill.
Public opposition has criticized the ban that would level a billion-dollar industry with over 53,000 jobs and prevent medical users of cannabis, be it veterans, patients with chronic pain, or those recovering from opioid addiction, from using more dangerous alternatives. Former Texas Longhorn and NFL star, Ricky Williams, was a vocal advocate for the veto, who through his Project Champion organization, petitioned over 150,000 signatures in opposition to the THC ban.
THC in Texas
While other states have fully legalized the medicinal as well as recreational use of THC products, Texas governing bodies have remained steadfast in prohibition of THC and marijuana products. Present laws allows for select hemp products that contain THC values of under .3%.
However, according to CBS News, the THC industry in Texas is an $8 billion market, generating $267 million in tax revenue, and employing over 53,000 jobs.
Why Abbott Vetoed SB 3
During the contentious discourse leading up to the ultimate veto, Abbott had remained largely quiet. Upon vetoing the bill, Abbott stated his concerns about requisites for a regulatory framework, doubts regarding the bill’s survival under constitutional challenges, and potential political entrapment for Texas farmers.
“Texas must enact a regulatory framework that protects public safety, aligns with federal law, has a fully funded enforcement structure, and can take effect without delay,” Abbott stated in his veto proclamation.
“Legislators could consider a structure similar to the way alcohol is regulated, with strict enforcement by an agency like the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.”
Following his decision to veto SB 3, Abbott called for a legislative session for July 21 to discuss consumable hemp regulation.