Texas Begins Enforcement of New THC Regulations Banning Most Synthetically Created Compounds
Texas is officially enforcing a new ban on most synthetically created THC products, including Delta-8, Delta-10, and THCA flower, starting this Friday. The Texas Supreme Court ruled in May that the Department of State Health Services has the authority to regulate these substances, ending a long-standing injunction that had delayed the ban for several years. Under the new rules, manufactured THC products will be classified as Schedule I controlled substances, placing them alongside narcotics like heroin and LSD. However, Delta-9 products with less than 0.3% THC by dry weight remain exempt because they occur naturally in the cannabis plant. The ban aims to improve public health by providing more oversight on products that vary widely in strength. While some industry leaders, such as Lukas Gilkey, argue the regulations could hurt small retail shops, others, like Dr. Bradford Holland, MD, support the move as a public health necessity to prevent children from ingesting inconsistent substances.