Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes THC ban, calls for regulation instead

Good morning.

I'm Brandon Hamilton.

At the last minute, Governor Abbott vetoed a THC ban in Texas, infuriating Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who spearheaded the bill.

ABC 13's Brianna Willis shared what this means going forward for those in the industry.

After the late night veto of SB3, Governor Abbott called for a special legislative session to find common ground for the bill.

We spoke with a local smoke shop employee who says throughout the process they've remained optimistic they'll be able to sell their THC products.

Pretty happy.

Very happy after a veto.

That's how Ricardo Hernandez says he feels after Governor Greg Abbott vetoed SB3, which would have banned all THC products across the state.

The law would have made it a misdemeanor to own, manufacture, or sell consumable THC, something that would have impacted Euphoria Smoke and Vape, which is why they have these signs posted to stop SB3.

It's not really as dangerous as people make it out to seem.

You know, you have a lot of elderly coming in here for like arthritis joints.

You have a lot of, you know, lotions for CBD and stuff.

So having a ban on stuff like that would have made it a little bit scarier, but we were very optimistic.

But those who supported the measure, like Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, told ABC 13, the drug is dangerous and shops have taken advantage of it.

So four times the number of McDonald's and Starbucks, you have these stores selling a dangerous product, which will take the life of your loved one away, potentially.

Because this is not minor stuff that they get a little high.

This is stuff that's three, four times as powerful as anything they'd buy from a drug dealer.

While Governor Abbott says he hopes they can create enforceable regulation, Hernandez is still hopeful business as usual will continue.

As long as everything stays legal as the way it is, I feel like we shouldn't have any problem going forward or selling anything else.

And that special legislative session is set to start July 21st.

In Montrose, Brianna Willis, ABC 13 Eyewitness News.