Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is highly critical about Governor Greg Abbott’s THC Executive Order, issued after the Governor vetoed a ban on hemp-derived THC.
The Governor’s statement of September 10 was issued. Executive Order No. GA-56 Concerning the protection of children against hemp and products derived from hemp, as well as clarifying regulation for these products.
It was a result of Governor Abbott vetoing a bill that would have banned hemp-derived THC. He instead decided to place the matter on an agenda in Special Session for future consideration. After extensive consultation with all parties involved, Lt. Patrick, who has strongly supported a ban, failed to reach consensus.
Patrick reacted to the Executive Order. Patrick said:
This isn’t a fight between me and the Governor. He said that the disagreement was over a policy of extreme importance. The Governor’s Executive Order, whether intentionally sent or not, is a message to the THC Industry that the state has approved the market for THC.
One of his main concerns regarding the Executive Order is:
- This ban doesn’t prohibit the sale and manufacture of products that the Lieutenant Governor calls “dangerous”, “intoxicating” “synthetic,” THC, and Delta-9-THC.
- The stores can continue to operate in their existing locations close to schools.
- Other crimes involving intoxication, such as driving under the influence of THC or other drugs will also remain a problem.
- The illegal resale of goods to minors is likely to continue.
- It is not enough for local police to enforce the law.
In the Executive Order, although federal authorities allows state governments to regulate “hemp” and its natural derivatives but not to ban them.
The majority of hemp-derived THC comes from the manipulation other cannabinoids, such as CBD. Although the label “synthetic is subject to dispute, one could argue that hemp-derived THC forms are not natural derivatives.
The Lt. The Executive Order has defined this as THC.
It is not true. “If that were true, federal law would require all states to legalize THC as the primary ingredient in marijuana,” said he. “Multiple courts already have ruled that states can ban THC. And several states already have.”
Commentary on Governor Abbott’s Executive Order More commentary on Gov. can be found here.
Patrick, who is against hemp THC as a general adult drug, supports the medical use cannabis including CBD, CBG, and cannabigerol, both of which are legal now in Texas.
He said: “I will never support any path that opens the door for recreational marijuana to enter our state.” “We don’t want to become another Colorado that failed.”