Texas Lt. Gov. Patrick rips Gov. Abbott for vetoing THC ban, digs in against calls for regulation

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick publicly clashed with Gov. Greg Abbott after Abbott vetoed Patrick’s top legislative priority: a full ban on THC products. Abbott argued the bill (SB 3) was legally flawed and called for a special session to implement tighter regulations instead. Patrick accused the governor of misleading him and vowed to continue pushing for an outright ban, citing concerns over youth access and weak enforcement. The dispute marks a rare and escalating rift between two of Texas’ most powerful Republicans, leaving lawmakers caught between opposing pressures in the upcoming special session.