Texas Bans Cannabis Products for Minors

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September 17 2025

Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed an executive order banning hemp and hemp-derived product consumption for minors and regulating its sale, though critics question its impact.

On Sept. 10, Abbott directed the Department of State Health Services and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to prohibit the sale of hemp-derived products to minors and require age verification upon purchasing for all customers; retailers who violate the order will have their permits revoked.

“Safety for kids, freedom for adults,” Abbott said in a post on X.

Texas’ growing hemp industry was left largely in the fate of consumers after Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3 earlier this year.

Since the 2018 federal Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp nationwide, Texas has seen rapid expansion in the market. The product remains legal under current interpretations of the federal and state law, as long as they contain no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.

As the executive order does not ban the product itself, some lawmakers, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and state Sen. Charles Perry, remain dissatisfied.

In a statement issued Friday, Patrick argued that the order gives the current THC market a seal of approval.

“These are the same people who have been selling dangerous THC products to kids and teens for the last four years in thousands of locations across Texas,” he said.

“They will continue to do so under this executive order without a ban.”

Chase Whitworth, Artisan Vapor and CBD Collins district manager, said the governor’s order represents a fair compromise.

“I personally think that it’s a good thing that that’s happening, cutting regulation on the use for minors to be attacked by the THC industry,” Whitworth said.

According to a report from Whitney Economics, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, delta-10 THC, CBD and cannabigerol are some of the most common hemp-derived products sold in Texas.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cannabis affects brain development and functions, specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotions and reaction time.

The center said usage before 18 may affect how the brain builds connections for functions like attention, memory and learning, and the effects could be permanent.

Patrick said the legislature never voted to legalize recreational marijuana or the THC products sold now, but due to the loophole in hemp laws, highly potent THC products are being sold, which is why Senate Bill 3 was passed in the Texas House and Senate during the regular session.

Since the veto in late June, Abbott put the item on the agenda for two special sessions over the summer.

In a proclamation issued June 22, Abbott said SB 3, as written, would create legal uncertainty for Texas farmers, as the bill criminalizes the manufacturing, distribution and sale of all consumable hemp products, regardless of whether they comply with federal law’s THC limits.

The governor’s latest order requires the Department of State Health Services and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to immediately create an age limit, but does not prescribe when the restriction must take effect and calls for both agencies to work with the Department of Public Safety to increase enforcement on existing rules.

The Department of State Health Services is also required to begin reviewing the current rules within 10 business days to possibly add stricter labeling and testing, improve recordkeeping to facilitate oversight and increase fees to support enforcement.

Sid Miller, Texas Department of Agriculture commissioner, said Abbott deserves praise for protecting minors from THC products while respecting the rights of adults.

“Protecting our kids and defending our freedoms do not need to be at odds,” Miller said.

Although Whitworth supports increased protections for youth, he said he worries that ongoing debates and potential bans could hurt small businesses.

“Lots of these small mom and pop shops won’t survive as well based off of that,” he said. “They won’t be able to recover.”

Perry said in a post on X that the age restriction does not fix the problem, and it gives the industry what it wants by leaving the product on shelves and ensuring the legislature will not close the loophole.

“This debate isn’t over, and I will not stop fighting until we secure real protections for our communities and prevent Texas from repeating the mistakes of other states,” Perry said.