The Texas Senate passed a bill on Wednesday banning the sale of all consumable hemp products with THC, with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick saying that banning all consumable THC in Texas is one of his top priorities, reported local news outlet KVUE.

“The products started popping up after Texas approved a farming bill in 2019. House Bill 1325 established the Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 443. It allows for the commerce of consumable hemp products across the state that do not exceed 0.3% Delta-9 THC. That law has led to the sale of hemp-derived Delta-8 THC and products that contain Delta-9 THC at 0.3% of the total weight, which can still be an intoxicating amount at a high ratio,” reported the outlet.

Patrick reportedly said that in the years since HB 1325 passed, more than 8,000 stores have opened that sell products with dangerous levels of THC. Patrick claimed retailers have exploited the law and started selling products that contain three to four times the THC content that might be found in marijuana purchased from a drug dealer and marketed them to children.

Meanwhile, in Florida, Congress members are fighting for a more regulated hemp market. The Florida government introduced a bill this week that would limit THC levels in hemp products to 5 milligrams per serving and 50 milligrams per package, reported Florida-based news outlet NBC8. The proposed bill would include a ban of Delta 8, Delta 10 and synthetic products.

The bill would also require any place selling hemp-infused drinks to have a liquor license.

In the August 2024 issue of NACS Magazine, “A Tale of Two Plants” discussed how the 2018 Farm Bill made it unclear if retailers could sell Delta-8, Delta-9 or any intoxicating cannabinoids. Continue reading for more.