Texas Bans Synthetic Hemp-Derived THC Products Following Supreme Court Ruling
Texas has officially banned products containing cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and THCP, following a Texas Supreme Court decision that cleared the way for the Texas Department of State Health Services to reclassify them as Schedule I controlled substances. The ban, which took effect on July 31, removes these synthetically derived products from the legal market, while low-dose delta-9 THC products remain legal as long as they contain no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick argued that the ban was necessary because intoxicating THC products were marketed too easily to children. However, James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, criticized the move, calling it a "gift to the cartels" and arguing that consumers will simply turn to the black market. Talarico also referenced a statement by President Trump regarding the need to end needless arrests for small amounts of marijuana. Possession of the banned products now carries a state jail felony penalty, which can include up to two years in prison and a fine of $10,000.