Letter to the Editor

Governor Abbott Should Veto SB3: Texas Can’t Afford to Ban THC 

On May 28, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 3 (SB3), a sweeping and shortsighted ban on all forms of THC—including federally legal, hemp-derived products. Governor Greg Abbott has until June 22 to veto or sign the bill. If he does neither, it becomes law by default. 

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who made SB3 a legislative “priority,” claims the bill is about protecting children. But this isn’t about kids, it’s about political power and campaign contributions. In 2025 alone, Patrick accepted $250,000 from Silver Eagle Beverages (Anheuser-Busch). Hemp-derived THC products have cut into the alcohol industry’s profits—and now, after a quarter-million-dollar donation, a competing market could be wiped out. 

Alcohol poses a far greater risk to youth than regulated hemp products ever have. Yet we continue to allow alcohol to be marketed, sold, and consumed freely across Texas with almost no moral panic or legislative backlash. 

Meanwhile, SB3 will criminalize millions of law-abiding Texans—who use THC responsibly to manage anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, insomnia, and other health conditions. I know this firsthand. I own Vapor Tech in Winnie, a fully licensed hemp business. My average customer is over 45 years old. They aren’t drug seekers, they’re parents, veterans, teachers, and retirees looking for relief without relying on addictive pharmaceuticals. 

If this bill becomes law, it won’t stop people from using THC. It will only eliminate safe, legal access and drive consumers toward unregulated and potentially dangerous black-market alternatives. 

The impact on small businesses will be catastrophic. A Houston Chronicle report by Marissa Mejia-Luck found nearly 400 hemp and vape shops in the Houston area alone could be forced to close. That’s over 800,000 square feet of retail space, about the size of the Toyota Center, suddenly emptied. Many of these shops are franchises like American Shaman and Bahama Mama, purchased by hard-working Texans who invested their life savings in what was, until now, a legal and promising industry. 

Statewide, the hemp sector contributes $5.5 billion in annual sales and generates approximately $268 million in tax revenue, according to a recent report by Whitney Economics. Despite this, lawmakers are poised to destroy it overnight—without offering meaningful reforms or regulations. 

Yes, there are improvements that should be made to the industry. We should remove products from gas stations, enforce age restrictions, mandate child-resistant packaging, and ensure rigorous lab testing. But banning all THC products outright punishes responsible businesses and responsible consumers alike. It’s legislative overkill. 

Retail Hemp Registration Licenses are issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services. In Chambers County, I am one of just three businesses with an active license and I am the only business in Winnie. The licensing program could generate an estimated $1.4 million a year, but only if the state actually enforces it. 

Unfortunately, SB3 doesn’t reflect concern for public safety. It reflects a political calculation. If you follow the money, it becomes clear: small businesses lose. Consumers lose. Texas loses. But the alcohol industry wins—and so does the political establishment that benefits from its donations. 

A recent Baselice & Associates poll found that 68% of likely Texas voters support keeping hemp-derived THC legal if properly regulated. Just 20% support an outright ban. This bill isn’t just misguided, it’s wildly out of step with public opinion. 

Governor Abbott has the opportunity to do the right thing. He can support small businesses, protect personal freedom, and keep millions of Texans from becoming criminals—by vetoing SB3. 

If you care about this issue, now is the time to speak out. Call the Governor’s office at 512-463-2000 and ask him to stand up for Texas entrepreneurs and consumers. 

Meredith Hamilton 
Owner, Vapor Tech 
Winnie, Texas 
409-296-2009