Texas SB 5 Must Not Survive
Lt. Gov Dan Patrick was recently called out in an article by the Texas scorecard, exposing connections to private lobbying groups that are funding SB5 in Texas in order to reduce competition for the Texas Medical program (TCUP) for financial gain.
Below is a FREE TO DOWNLOAD short PSA about SB-5 with a great song about cannabis by The Illusions Of Music.
Say No Way To SB 5!
A Dangerous Step Backward For Hemp, Cannabis, And Common Sense
Written by Casper Leitch
In a state as bold and independent as Texas, it’s hard to believe lawmakers are considering a bill that would undo years of progress, erase economic opportunities, and criminalize innovation, all under the guise of "safety." Welcome to Texas Senate Bill 5 (SB 5): a sweeping and controversial piece of legislation that would ban almost every consumable hemp product containing any trace of THC, while ignoring science, public opinion, and even the guidance of Governor Greg Abbott himself.
At a time when hemp reform is blossoming across the nation, and the Lone Star State's own hemp industry is creating jobs, expanding markets, and fueling entrepreneurship; SB 5 threatens to stomp out this growth before it truly takes root. Texas Senate Bill 5 proposes a near-total ban on consumable hemp products that contain any detectable amount of THC, including many non-intoxicating cannabinoids that occur naturally in the hemp plant.
The Bill Seeks To
Ban the sale, manufacture, possession, or use of any hemp product with detectable THC; Prohibit smokable hemp and synthetic cannabinoids; Allow only CBD and CBG, limiting the market to just two cannabinoids out of hundreds; Require DEA-certified lab testing, strict packaging, and age restrictions.
Enforce Steep Penalties
Third-degree felony for manufacturing/selling banned hemp products; Class B misdemeanor (up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine) for simple possession; Class A misdemeanor for shipping or selling illegal hemp; Class C misdemeanor for possessing unregistered or smokable hemp products.
In other words, if this bill passes, your full-spectrum CBD oil? Banned. That hemp-derived tincture from your local wellness shop? Criminalized. Even owning a product you "thought was legal" could land you in jail.
A Bill That Bans More Than THC
Unlike previous regulations targeting synthetic cannabinoids (like Delta-8 and Delta-10), SB 5 goes much further. It draws no distinction between intoxicating and non-intoxicating compounds. If it contains any THC, regardless of amount, it’s illegal.
The reality that full-spectrum hemp products often contain trace, non-intoxicating THC levels; The fact that terpenes and cannabinoids work synergistically (the “entourage effect”) to enhance therapeutic value; Consumer demand for plant-based wellness alternatives and natural medicines; The livelihoods of farmers, retailers, manufacturers, and medical cannabis patients across Texas. It also clashes directly with Governor Abbott’s own public statements, where he has repeatedly called for regulated access, not total prohibition.
Why SB 5 Is A Threat To The Hemp Economy
Texas legalized hemp farming and hemp-derived products in 2019 following the federal Farm Bill of 2018. Since then, the Texas hemp industry has grown rapidly, now employing an estimated 53,000 people and generating tens of millions in economic activity.
Ironically, what SB 5 proposes isn’t regulation, it’s "re-prohibition". Banning nearly every consumable hemp product would: Cripple small businesses, many of whom rely on full-spectrum or minor-cannabinoid products; Devastate hemp farmers, who would lose much of their market overnight; Push consumers to the unregulated black market, increasing health and safety risks; Send a chilling message to future investors and entrepreneurs: Texas isn’t open for hemp business!
Reform Advocates Speak Out
Leaders like Heather Fazio, Director of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center, have denounced SB 5 and its companion bills (like HB 5), calling them unreasonable and disconnected from both scientific understanding and Governor Abbott’s own platform. Other cannabis policy organizations, including the Texas Hemp Business Council, have warned that SB 5 would gut the industry, punish innovation, and harm public health.
Governor Abbott himself has gone on record multiple times stating he does not support a full ban, and instead wants: THC limits set at 3 milligrams per serving; Restrictions on synthetic cannabinoids; Age restrictions of 21 on hemp product sales; Common-sense packaging laws to protect children and minors; A broader, regulated hemp market, not criminalization.
A Crossroads for Cannabis Reform
While SB 5 moves toward criminalization, other lawmakers are pushing forward: HB 42 would protect consumers from prosecution if they unknowingly bought mislabeled hemp; HB 195 would legalize adult-use marijuana in Texas for those over 21; SB 39 and HB 160 propose packaging regulations to discourage marketing to children. And importantly, Governor Abbott has already signed a law expanding the Texas Compassionate Use Program, allowing medical marijuana for conditions like chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, TBI, and end-of-life care. These are the kinds of smart, compassionate steps Texans need, not mass criminalization of a federally legal plant.
What You Can Do
If you care about ending hemp prohibition, expanding medical cannabis, and protecting Texas hemp jobs and products, now is the time to speak up:
Call your state lawmakers and urge them to oppose SB 5 and HB 5.
Support local hemp businesses and let them know their work matters.
Share this article and educate your friends, family, and neighbors about this.
Join advocacy groups like the Texas Hemp Business Council and get involved in the community.
The Future of Hemp Belongs to the People
Texas SB 5 is a cautionary tale of how quickly freedom can be revoked, even when the people, the science, and the leadership agree on a better path. This isn’t just about THC or CBD. It’s about autonomy, access, agriculture, and the right to benefit from one of humanity’s oldest plants: cannabis. Let’s not go backward. Let’s move forward toward safe, legal, and regulated cannabis access for all Texans.
Below is a FREE TO DOWNLOAD short PSA about SB-5 with a great song about cannabis by The Illusions Of Music.
Just Say KNOW To SB 5!
The Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs considers the regulation of certain products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp derived cannabinoids contained in those products.
