Posted on 06/23/2025 5:33:00 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas vetoed a bill late Sunday that would have created one of the nation’s strictest bans on the sale of intoxicants made from hemp, maintaining the state’s fast-growing market for the products at least for now.
The ban bill was pushed through the Legislature last month by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a hard-line conservative, and was fiercely resisted by consumers and by the growing number of businesses across Texas that sell gummies, joints, drinks and other products derived from hemp.
The law would have made it a crime in Texas to possess or sell consumable hemp products with a detectable amount of THC, the psychoactive chemical produced naturally by the cannabis plant. Texas does not allow the recreational use of marijuana, as hemp with a high THC content is known, though the state has a limited medical marijuana program.
Mr. Abbott waited until the final minutes before the ban would have automatically become law to issue his veto.
In a statement issued along with the veto, he said the hemp ban would have been challenged immediately in the courts. He directed lawmakers to return to the State Capitol next month to take up the issue of regulating the industry instead of banning it.
“Texas must strongly regulate hemp, and it must do so immediately,” Mr. Abbott said in his statement.
The veto put the governor at odds with Mr. Patrick, who wields considerable power in the state. Mr. Patrick said in a statement that the “late-night veto” by Mr. Abbott left Republicans in the legislature — who strongly backed the ban — and law enforcement officials who supported it “feeling abandoned” by the governor.
The back-and-forth...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Abbot wants Texas to go woke I guess.
Abbott has been making some very confusions decisions on legislature lately. Permanent DST (which I fiercely oppose), now this.
No, He foresees legal issues of the ban. He is correct. The legislature has to pass laws that pass Constitutional muster. Regulation is the answer according to Abbot. There are plenty of intoxicants out there, why single out this one is what the courts would have them answer.
As if the ban makes any difference at all, regarding availability or popularity anymore. We passed that point when the fed stopped enforcing the law. It’s all water over the dam now.
Legalization should really be a Conservative cause, but we’re sadly trapped in a cycle of taking the opposite stance of the Democrats on everything.
For curiosity’s sake, why do you oppose DST? The reason I ask is I kind of a favor it myself. It is confusing for no reason, that’s why.
That’s my boy Abbott. As far as I’m concerned, anybody who thinks he’s smarter than Abbott is a little suspect.
Polls show Millennials and GenZ wanted this to be vetoed
Legalization might be a Libertarian issue, but not a socially conservative one.
70% percent of Texans would legalize marijuana for recreational use.if we had referendum to vote on it. You boomers are insufferable and will be dead soon no one cares about your reefer madness. Abbot is smart he knew not to anger 3 generations of voters who are 3/4 of the voting block by numbers. He would be crushed if the younger people show up at the polls.
It’s really moot. Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Ft Worth all have decriminalized from one ounce to a quarter pound of weed. Their city nor country cops can enforce , arrest or write tickets for it. Dallas cops cannot use odor as probable cause at all you literally can smoke in front of them. The voters told their local representatives this is what they demand. That is exactly how it should work. The out of touch state reps are the problem. Abbot is smart he did the right thing for his own survival.
Social conservatism is politically dead. Nobody wants it.
The country is effective now divided between far-left Marxist social justice wokeism and "America First" populist nationalism.
The people largely want legal weed and legal abortion and if you don't, that's a personal decision you're free to make.
I hope you enjoy your poop-filled sidewalks and robberies from all the homeless dopers when they're gone.
I do edible cannabis every day. That’s about the only good thing about living here in NY where it’s legal. Weed is not good for young people with their developing brain but studies show a neuroprotective effect in old people. I’m 69 and have been doing it since 14 and my brain function is better now than my close friends of similar age who rarely if ever did drugs. They are always grasping for certain words and seem to take longer formulating their thoughts.
The country is effective now divided between far-left Marxist social justice wokeism and "America First" populist nationalism.
The people largely want legal weed and legal abortion and if you don't, that's a personal decision you're free to make.
And adultery and homosexuality and transexuality and plenty of other things. If you don't want them, that's a personal decision you're free to make.
But decisions have consequences.
You are right. 25 of 30 million Texans live in cities that have decriminalized from one ounce to a quarter pound of recreational marijuana. The cops in those cities and the county cops cannot arrest or enforce state law only DPS or Texas Rangers can. It’s moot you can have 4 ounces on you in Dallas and the cops cannot even confiscate it. No ticket no arrest they must walk away. The voters demanded this of the City Council and County managers this is how it works the majority of people.spoke and spoke clearly. Austin same , same. Houston too. Abbot knows it’s a issue that GenX, millennials and Genz which are 3/4 of registered voters now won’t tolerate a ban. It is that simple. He knows his group is on the way out but can hang on if they don’t anger the youngsters into showing up and flexing their numbers.
It’s already banned by federal law. He is choosing not to enforce it
In states where marijuana is illegal, you are starting to see a lot of CBD stores popping up. Supposedly it comes from a different variety of the Cannabis plant than does marijuana. As a former botanist, I can confidently say that those who believe that the two varieties are separated by an absolute line of demarcation are deluding themselves.
In our town there is a row of three stores: a liquor store, a CBD store, and a Goodwill store. There is something sadly ironic about that pattern.
Save it, don’t care what boomers think we are not California. Texas enforces laws that make sense. Like vacancy and public intox. California chooses to allow bad behavior. People drink and drive, people drink and beat their wives too. Alcohol is a much worse intoxicant by FAR. Every statistic proves that in spades. The younger generations would gladly outlaw alcohol they don’t drink near as much as olders, it makes you fat and kills your liver and kidneys. There was a post about how whiskey makers are worried because younger generations don’t drink like boomers so much less.
If Republicans make it clear that they don't care what social conservatives think, the Party may be in for a rough few years. It's temporary ascendancy might be short-lived. Most social conservatives still vividly remember being the red-headed stepchildren of the Republican Party.
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