Austin, Texas (AP) – With an adequate number of gas stations in place, locating them is a breeze. These establishments are infused with gummy edibles, beverages, and vaping products, all of which contribute to marijuana’s psychoactive effects.
Lawmakers across the US face challenges in regulating a flourishing market, particularly in Texas where a proposed congressional ban presents another significant hurdle for the industry.
Texas maintains some of the most stringent marijuana laws in the country, yet thousands of retailers within the state offer supplies, underscoring the ongoing struggle to establish guidelines for products that yield substantial tax revenue.
Republican Governor Greg Abbott has yet to reveal whether he will endorse the ban. Other states, such as California, have implemented restrictions in recent years, including age limitations and caps on the potency of products, which are often marketed as legal even where marijuana remains illegal.
“Governor Abbott will review the legislation presented to him,” spokesperson Andrew Mahalleris stated when asked about the bill.
Texas Strives to Rein in Sales
The proposed Texas legislation would criminalize the sale, possession, or production of consumables containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. In light of legislative proposals, several other states have made moves to restrict THC markets, using federal law from 2018 that permits state regulation of hemp—often processed synthetically to produce THC.
Hemp is cultivated for various products, including textiles, plastics, and food. It shares a familial connection with marijuana but must contain less than 0.3% THC to be defined as hemp under federal law.
This burgeoning market is offering residents in states with strict marijuana regulations, like Texas, legal avenues for accessing products that replicate the high.
Nationwide, products continue to be accessible through legal loopholes despite health concerns and the absence of regulatory oversight regarding their production.
Last week, Republican Lt. Dan Patrick showcased a collection of THC snacks in front of reporters, reaffirming Texas’s commitment to banning such products. When questioned about a potential veto, he expressed confidence in Abbott’s support for the ban.
“This is a serious issue,” Patrick asserted.
Katherine Neil Harris, a drug policy researcher at Rice University’s Institute of Public Policy, noted that Texas would enact one of the strictest bans in the nation if the law passes.
“I’m not aware of any other states without a recreational marijuana market that restrict consumable hemp products containing THC,” Harris remarked.
A Complex Legal Terrain
In contrast, states like Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee are tightening restrictions on THC markets as well, indicating a broader push to ban recreational marijuana despite strenuous efforts.
In Florida, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis rejected a bill last year aimed at enforcing age restrictions, banning child-targeted marketing, arguing it would harm small businesses.
“There is a range of responses from different states,” Harris commented.
Texas operates one of the most limited medical marijuana programs in the nation, permitting only three licensed clinics to dispense minimal amounts of marijuana to individuals with conditions such as PTSD and cancer. Expanding the state’s healthcare framework has become contentious among some Republican lawmakers.
Across the nation, 38 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana usage. Roughly six in ten Americans support the legalization of recreational marijuana, according to an AP poll surveying over 120,000 voters nationwide in 2024.
Retailers Resist Legislative Bans
Kyle Bingham, a farmer from Texas’ Panhandle, indicated he will cease hemp cultivation regardless of the outcome of the ban. For the past four years, he has farmed alongside his father, integrating hemp among various crops, including cotton.
“We’ve never allocated more than 5% of our acreage to hemp, as per our business model,” stated Bingham, who is also vice president of the National Association of Hemp Growers. “It’s certainly challenging for us to consider it a viable investment.”
Due to a lack of federal oversight regarding manufacturing practices, it remains unclear precisely what is being sold in THC-related products.
Many clinics are apprehensive about their future and appealing to the governor to state their opposition to the law. They have defended the market as offering medical relief to individuals unable to access medical marijuana through state-regulated programs.
“It’s absurd to believe they could ax 50,000 jobs,” asserted Savannah Gavlik, an employee at a clinic based in Austin. “Should the ban pass, our store would likely shut down.”
“Self-care is one of the main services we provide,” added Gavlik. “It helps those genuinely in need of medical relief.”
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Lathan is a member of the Associated Press/America Statehouse News Initiative report. American Report is a nonprofit initiative that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on important issues.
Source: apnews.com