The executive order I signed ensures the safety of children, that parents can rest easy and that all products purchased by consumers have been tested and are labeled in a responsible manner.
The Texas Tribune: Alex Nguyen
Texas will continue to allow THC-based products, although they are now largely banned from minors. Greg Abbott (R), on Wednesday.
Abbott has directed the Texas Department of State Health Services to stop selling THC products in Texas to minors. According to the order, health agencies must also review their existing regulations to include stricter testing and labeling requirements. They will have to improve records to allow for easier oversight as well as raise licensing fees in support of enforcement.
These agencies are also required to cooperate with the Department of Public Safety and increase enforcement of current rules.
In a statement to the press, Abbott stated that Texas will not delay in protecting families and children. While these products could still be regulated by the Texas Legislature in the same way that alcohol and tobacco are, Abbott’s executive order ensures that children are safe, parents are at ease, and consumers are assured that the products that they buy are responsibly tested and labelled.
Texas Tribune Blast’s newsletter was the first to report on Abbott’s anticipated executive order. This came about one week after the Legislature concluded its second session this year without enacting any new laws or regulations governing hemp products for consumption in Texas.
Abbott had THC regulations on his agenda during two special sessions in a row, but legislators failed to come up with a solution that would satisfy both the governor and the legislature. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican who has previously called THC-containing products “poison for our people,” said in a recent post to X that he would accept nothing less than a complete THC prohibition. Abbott stated that he preferred tighter regulation to a complete ban.
Abbott’s Wednesday order bypassed legislative gridlock and avoided calling another overtime session of lawmaking.
Patrick’s Office has been contacted by The Texas Tribune for comment.
Charles Perry (R), state senator, said that a restriction on age would not stop harmful products being available. He made this statement after the Texas Tribune reported about the expected executive order. Lubbock Republican Senator Charles Perry (R), who was the author of all Senate THC prohibitions in this past year, stated that the best response would be to ban “all synthesized cannabinoids,” converted cannabinoids or smokeables.
Perry stated in a post posted on X Tuesday that “this debate isn’t over” and that he would not cease fighting until Texas was able to prevent itself from making the same mistakes as other states.
Hemp industry has backed the move to limit age restrictions on THC purchases. Although there is no age restriction, some retailers have said that they check the identification of customers to make sure minors do not purchase their products. Industry leaders said that lawmakers’ failure to pass this restriction is a missed chance.
Cynthia Cabrera of the Texas Hemp Business Council commented on Patrick’s post.
The trade group, in particular, supported House Bill 36 at the second special session. The bill would have made THC products illegal for people under 21. However, it was killed in a House panel despite some interest during an attempt at a last minute deal. The bill would also have made it a class C misdemeanor in the majority of cases for both buyers and sellers. Some critics, however, say that the legislation should not have added more penalties for minors but instead placed the responsibility on the sellers.
The Texas House proposed earlier this year to restrict THC sales only to 21-year-olds, similar to Abbott’s regulatory approach. Later, the Texas House abandoned the plan in favor of a THC ban that was agreed upon with the Senate. In June, the Governor vetoed the bill.
Abbott declared in his veto announcement that the ban proposed would be against federal laws. In addition, he called for increased regulation.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/10/texas-thc-executive-order-greg-abbott-weed-cannabis/.