Texas Senate renews push to ban THC products statewide

Conservative lawmakers say public health concerns outweigh industry opposition.

The debate over THC products in Texas is returning to the Capitol, with conservative leaders in the Texas Senate signaling another attempt to ban the products statewide.

During invited testimony on Tuesday morning, senators focused on mental health concerns and the impact THC-related cases are having on Texas hospitals. The effort has the backing of police chiefs, sheriffs and the Texas Medical Association.

“Emergency department visits related to THC has also demonstrated an alarming and significant rise over the past several years,” Dr. Dominic Lucia with the Texas Medical Association said.

A statewide ban on THC products was a top priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during the last legislative session, but Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed the proposal.

Abbott instead legalized and regulated low-level THC through an executive order, a move that largely aligned with the state's $10 billion industry, which supporters say employs 50,000 workers.

“Texans don’t want a ban. We want fair policies. We want to protect consumers. We want to prevent under age access,” cannabis farmer Eddie Velez said.

“There’s nothing good in this stuff. There’s no virtue in it,” Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, said.

Perry, who filed the bill that was vetoed during the last legislative session, said he plans to bring the proposal back.

“I’m at my breaking point from a conscious level. I don’t know as a society how we can allow this stuff to perpetuate itself in the name of profit. Or how these industries look at themselves in the mirror every day knowing what they’re doing,” Perry said.

Both supporters and opponents of the proposal are expected to spend the coming months preparing for another contentious fight at the Texas Capitol when lawmakers return to Austin.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.