Texas Governor Greg Abbott says he has not decided whether to sign or veto Senate Bill 3, that would ban consumable products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). That’s the psycho-active compound found in cannabis. As Houston Public Media reports, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick wants Abbott to sign the measure, while the multi-billion-dollar hemp industry is pushing for a veto.
Katharine Neill Harris is a drug policy fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute, which describes itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan, data-driven policy research organization, colloquially referred to as a ‘think tank.’ Harris reflected on the governor’s decision, “If he were to veto it, there would certainly be a lot of pressure then to request the Legislature to come back and look back at the issue again and pass something that’s a bit more, you know, moderate.”
If a veto is ultimately what Abbott decides to do, the state of Texas would have no authority to mandate restrictions on the age of a person purchasing THC products. A veto would also leave the state without quality control on THC products for at least two years when the Texas legislature meets in regular session again.
Abbott has until this coming Sunday, June 22, to make a decision on the THC ban bill. If the governor takes no action then the measure becomes law by default.
