Everything Texans need to know about the upcoming TABC hemp hearing

OG article by Natalie Grigson for MySA

December 11, 2025

On December 11, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) will hold a public hearing on permanent hemp and THC rules affecting Texas bars, dispensaries, and stores selling THC products. TABC regulates THC products sold alongside alcohol, while the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) oversees others, though enforcement may shift to TABC per Governor Abbott's executive order demanding stricter regulations, including age restrictions on sales to minors. Texas legalized hemp via House Bill 1325 in 2019, allowing cannabis derivatives with no more than 0.3% delta-9-THC by dry weight, fostering a hemp economy with products like CBD oils, delta-8 gummies, and THCA vapes. These have been regulated by DSHS since then. Senate Bill 3, which aimed to ban consumable hemp products with THC or psychoactive cannabinoids, passed but was vetoed by Abbott, who favored regulation over prohibition. Emergency rules with age restrictions were implemented, and the hearing will formalize them based on stakeholder feedback. The hearing, held on Zoom, accepts public input, with written comments due by January 4 via email to rules@tabc.texas.gov. Experts like Texas Cannabis Policy director Heather Fazio note age restrictions were overdue to prevent minor access, while Restart CBD co-founder Shayda Torabi supports them for boosting industry confidence. Federally, the 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as under 0.3% delta-9-THC, enabling similar products. However, a November provision in H.R. 5371, effective November 2026, redefines hemp to limit total THC (including THCA) to 0.3% and caps THC-class cannabinoids at 0.4 milligrams per container, banning synthesized cannabinoids like delta-8 and delta-10. This will likely render most hemp-derived THC products illegal in Texas unless reforms occur.