Texas lawmakers are looking to reign in access to products that contain THC, but the House and Senate could take somewhat different approaches.
The state’s consumable hemp industry blossomed following a 2019 bill that allowed the production of hemp in Texas. Just a few years later, products that contain THC and can produce a high are readily available in the state. They come in the form of drinks, gummies and vapes.
The products are similar to marijuana, and in some cases have tested positive as weed.
Understanding the difference can feel like a bit of a chemistry lesson.
Hemp and marijuana are both forms of cannabis, a plant that contains all sorts of chemical compounds — including THC and CBD, two of the many types of cannabinoids found in the plant. Statutorily speaking, legal hemp has Delta-9 THC concentration below 0.3% by dry weight. Anything above that is illegal marijuana.
Lagging regulations in the consumable hemp industry have gotten the attention of the Texas Legislature, particularly Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has made a ban on products containing THC a must. The supporting legislation has already passed out of the chamber.
