The statewide ban against hemp products and the criminalization of THC will cause more harm than good to Texans and small business owners. Effective since July 31, Texas has officially banned the sales of Delta-8, Delta-10, THCA, THCP flower and smokable products. While THC variant “Delta-9” is technically still legal, a possessor must have no more than 0.03% in dry weight and if found with more can be fined up to $2,000-$10,000 or 180 days to two years in prison. While state officials believe this ban will protect children and the loopholes taken by the hemp industries, hemp retailers have had to remove a majority of their inventory off the shelves or else face fines up to $10,000 per day or face license revocation. As much as officials believe that removing these products off the shelves will stop consumers, it will only lead them to go buy from unsafe sellers on the black market.
We believe the hemp ban and laws on marijuana are being influenced by the private prison industry and alcohol companies in Texas that rely on the restriction of THC in Texas to continue profiting. Studies show that alcohol sales have decreased yearly, and officials argue there were no correlations to the decrease of alcohol with the rise of hemp sales. But The Texas Beverage Economics report stated that Texas averaged more than $10 billion in alcohol sales, while the Texas Hemp reporter stated hemp sales in Texas averaged to more than $5 billion, averaging half of the alcohol income. This poses a threat to Texas alcohol companies. Texas prisons also have a role in the hemp ban. According to Cannabis Culture magazine, “Texas police made over 29,000 marijuana-related arrests in 2025, approximately 14 percent of the national total. Ninety-eight percent of those arrested for marijuana-related violations in Texas were charged with simple possession.” Texas ranks the highest in the nation for cannabis arrest while all charges were for 2 grams or less.
This ban sets us back as a state to continue to wrongly imprison more people. In the year 2026 where we have enough studies to debunk and prove the wrongful stereotypes of cannabis, Texas has chosen to continue to spread misinformation and criminalize cannabis. Alcohol has more than enough evidence to prove its own ill effects, from drunk driving and kidney and liver failure to alcohol addiction and high violence rates, yet it’s still legal and pushed as normal by society.
While cannabis is demonized, studies show it contains many medicinal properties that help people with PTSD, epilepsy, insomnia, chronic pain, sclerosis spasticity, chemotherapy-induced nausea, anxiety, etc., the list continues to a wide variety of medical illnesses.
Although this ban does not affect approved medical users in Texas, the stigma around cannabis ultimately still wrongfully affects us altogether. No one should be imprisoned for the use of cannabis while another uses it as medicine. Texas needs to evolve as a state and listen to the needs of the people. Other states have taken the opportunity to grow their hemp industries allowing the state to generate income from taxes, provide more jobs, and help medical and recreational users to receive safe cannabis. For more information on Texas Cannabis Advocacy check out www.Texasnorml.org
