For the past few months, we’ve been on high alert. Talking. Educating. Rallying.
All in response to Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) — legislation that threatens not only alternative wellness access but the livelihoods of thousands of small business owners across Texas.
Recently, the Texas House Committee made revisions to SB 3. Some took that as a win. But let’s be real here—this new version isn’t a win. It’s a controlled demolition.
What’s Still in the Revised Bill?
Let’s break it down.
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THCA is gone. Completely.
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All synthetically derived or converted cannabinoids — gone.
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There’s now a strict cap on Delta-9 THC levels per product.
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A two-cent tax on every 2.5 grams of product.
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Packaging restrictions, electronic age verification, and zoning bans within 1,000 feet of a school, church, or daycare.
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Vape products would be banned altogether, regardless of formulation.
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Edibles are allowed—but chocolate? Not allowed.
And perhaps the most dangerous clause of all:
Each county in Texas can now decide whether to ban hemp products entirely.
That means even if your product meets every regulation, your county’s leadership—or worse, a single local official—could decide to outlaw it anyway.
That’s not just regulation.
That’s economic instability wrapped in red tape and handed out at random.
What Does This Mean for Texas Business Owners?
It means over 8,000 small businesses are at risk of being priced out, regulated out, or voted out of existence.
Every product would have to be registered with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), the agency that oversees alcohol in the state. And the cost? $500 per product. If a shop carries 20–30 products (which is low for most of us), you’re talking $10,000–$15,000 in just product registration.
That doesn’t include reformulating packaging, moving locations, adding age-verification software, or preparing for potential county-level bans.
Some counties may vote to support the industry.
But many won’t. And none of us can gamble our future on a coin toss in a courthouse.
It’s Not About Safety — It’s About Control
Let’s not pretend this is about protecting kids or consumers. If that were the case, they’d be listening to the 60%+ of Texans who support keeping access to hemp-based wellness as it currently stands.
This is about control, money, and power.
And unfortunately, it’s being pushed by leaders who’ve said on record that Texans are “too stupid” to vote on cannabis-related issues. That’s not representation — that’s condescension.
What Happens Next?
The bill now heads to the full House for a vote. If passed, it goes back to the Senate for compromise discussions. But the clock is ticking — there are roughly 30 days left in session. And in the past, we’ve seen legislation like this stall out due to lack of time.
But this year, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has already threatened to call a special session to force this through if it doesn’t pass in time. So we’re not out of the woods.
What Can We Do?
Here’s where we stand:
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Call and email your Texas House representatives. They need to hear from real people—not lobbyists.
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Share the facts about this bill with your community. Don’t let the conversation die.
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Support local shops. Your dollars keep this industry alive during uncertain times.
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Prepare to contribute. If it passes, lawsuits and injunctions may be our best next step—and they’ll need resources. If 8,000 of us contributed $1,000, that’s $8 million to protect the future of plant-based wellness in Texas.
If you’ve built something from the ground up, you know how crushing this could be.
This isn’t just about product shelves. It’s about rent, animals, employees, leases, bills, and dignity.
We’re not against reasonable regulation.
But this? This is economic sabotage with a friendly face.
And if we don’t push back—hard—it could be the beginning of the end for many of us.
The truth is, the revised bill isn’t a compromise. It’s a countdown.
And the clock’s still ticking.