Texas Senator Charles Perry to File Bill Banning Consumable THC

Texas State Senator Charles Perry announced plans to introduce a bill banning consumable hemp-derived THC products during the 90th Legislative Session starting in January 2027. The announcement followed a July 8 public hearing by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services in Austin, where officials cited rising public health crises, including over 10,000 calls to the Texas Poison Center Network since 2021.

Committee Chair Lois Kolkhorst presented data showing that infants testing positive for THC at birth rose from 1,559 in fiscal year 2024 to 1,896 in 2025. Law enforcement testimony from Allen Police Chief Steve Dye highlighted that actual THC concentrations in products often exceed those listed on labels. This legislative push follows a 2025 attempt to ban the products, which Governor Greg Abbott vetoed in favor of stricter regulation.

Since March 31, the Texas Department of State Health Services has implemented regulations including a 0.3% THC threshold—effectively banning THCA flower—and increasing manufacturer licensing fees from $258 to $10,000. While Perry praised these fees as a means to force businesses to close, the Texas Hemp Business Council argued that prohibition would drive consumers toward unregulated markets and urged an evidence-based regulatory framework instead.