Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announces a "Double Nickel" tax proposal to reduce the age on freezing property taxes from its current 65 to 55 years of age on December 9, 2025.

Dan Patrick adds data centers, prediction markets and THC to Senate priorities

Patrick’s Friday release of priorities calls on lawmakers to study the emerging issues ahead of the 2027 legislative session.

by Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Patrick’s Friday release of priorities calls on lawmakers to study the emerging issues ahead of the 2027 legislative session.

Smokable hemp products such as these will be banned statewide come March 31.

Cannabis

Texas’ looming ban on smokable THC products creates turmoil for industry and its customers

San Antonio dispensaries say they plan to soldier on, but smokeable products account for a large portion of their sales.

by Abe Asher March 26, 2026March 26, 2026

Jason Sanders with Texas Original gives a tour of the business’ facility on Sept. 26, 2024.

News

A blossoming Texas medical marijuana industry adds new businesses, products and patients

The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued provisional licenses to nine new medical marijuana operators while existing ones have started opening new manufacturing and cultivating facilities.

by Stephen Simpson, The Texas Tribune January 12, 2026January 12, 2026

Cereal Bites, a product from Hometown Hero, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, outside of Midway.

Cannabis News

Texas proposes 13,000% licensing fee hike on retailers who sell hemp-derived THC

Hemp advocates say raising annual licensing fees for retailers from $150 to $20,000 and for manufacturers from $250 to $25,000 would shutter small businesses.

by Stephen Simpson, The Texas Tribune January 11, 2026January 11, 2026

Workers at Texas Original, one of two medical marijuana suppliers active in Texas examine harvested flower in the company’s growing facility.

Cannabis News

Texas’ medical cannabis program tentatively approves 9 new providers

The expansion could be a shot in the arm for what’s largely viewed as the nation’s most anemic medical pot program.

by Sanford Nowlin December 2, 2025December 2, 2025

THC products sit near the cash register in Hyde Park Market in Austin on May 5, 2025.

Cannabis News

Gov. Greg Abbott orders minors banned from THC products

The governor’s order came shortly after the Legislature failed to ban or further regulate hemp-derived THC products by the end of this year’s second special session.

by Alex Nguyen, The Texas Tribune September 10, 2025September 10, 2025

A sign shows where delta-8 products are sold.

News

Texas Legislature ends special session without major bill to ban or regulate THC-containing hemp

Gov. Greg Abbott wanted regulations for the industry, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wanted a ban. As a result of their impasse, the state got neither.

by Sanford Nowlin September 4, 2025September 4, 2025

Hemp plants are seen at Caprock Family Farms, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Lubbock.

Cannabis

Texas lawmakers working on last-minute deal to tighten restrictions on THC products

The negotiations were an unexpected twist after the main legislative proposal — an outright ban on THC products — sat dormant for weeks.

by Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune September 3, 2025September 3, 2025

The Texas Capitol in Austin on June 30, 2025.

Texas News

More than 800 new laws went into effect in Texas on Sept. 1. Here are some of the significant ones.

New laws range from school vouchers and water infrastructure funding to a ban on city and county-funded abortion travel funds.

by Alex Nguyen, The Texas Tribune September 2, 2025September 2, 2025

Shops selling THC-containing hemp products proliferated statewide after both Congress and the Texas Legislature approved the sale of hemp crops.

Cannabis

Texas Senate gives first approval to hemp ban bill despite Gov. Greg Abbott vetoing earlier attempt

The proposal, backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, faces an uncertain fate in the Texas House.

by Sanford Nowlin July 31, 2025August 30, 2025

Cannabis

Texas Senate moves ahead with new bill to ban hemp despite governor’s veto of similar proposal

Veterans and hemp-industry advocates accused bill backers of ignoring Gov. Greg Abbott’s call for regulation instead of an outright ban.

by Sanford Nowlin July 23, 2025August 29, 2025

Cannabis

THC-related poison control calls tripled in Texas after hemp became legal. Experts say there’s more to the story.

Experts say poison control data don’t specify which calls are related to hemp versus more dangerous K2, but show that most THC poisonings cause minor side effects.

by Stephen Simpson with data reporting by Dan Keemahill, The Texas Tribune July 22, 2025August 31, 2025

News

The Texas Legislature is back for a special session. Here’s what we’re watching.

Lawmakers will have 30 days to tackle a packed agenda outlined by Gov. Greg Abbott, from flood relief to redistricting to THC products.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune July 21, 2025July 24, 2025

Cannabis

Reefer Madness: What Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick hopes to get out of his THC meltdown

Despite Patrick’s tough talk about shutting down the hemp industry, observers predict he’ll ultimately accept regulating it.

by Sanford Nowlin July 10, 2025August 29, 2025

News

Gov. Abbott orders special session on Hill Country flooding, redistricting, THC and unfinished GOP priorities

The Republican governor laid out an ambitious agenda that includes an unexpected array of conservative bills that failed during the regular session.

by Alejandro Serrano and Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune July 10, 2025July 25, 2025

Cannabis

Texas governor kills state’s new THC ban with late-night veto

Instead, Gov. Greg Abbott called for a special legislative session to regulate the industry and keep its products away from minors.

by Sanford Nowlin June 23, 2025August 2, 2025

News

Assclown Alert: Banning THC for the sake of political theater with Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

If you’re angry about the state’s pending ban on THC-containing hemp, look no further than Patrick.

by Sanford Nowlin May 28, 2025June 23, 2025

Cannabis

Texas House gives initial approval to bill that would completely ban THC products

The proposal would remove products such as delta-8 vapes from store shelves and shut down an industry that contributes $10 billion to the state economy.

by Sanford Nowlin May 22, 2025August 5, 2025

Cannabis

Texas hemp farmers fear full THC ban would nip industry in the bud

As lawmakers work to close loopholes that allow minors access to cannabis consumables, hemp farmers warn a total THC ban would strangle a once-hailed crop.

by Stephen Simpson, The Texas Tribune April 18, 2025August 2, 2025

News

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he’ll push for special session if THC ban, bail changes fail

Only Gov. Greg Abbott can call for a special session. But in his role presiding over the Texas Senate, Patrick can block any bill from passing, giving him leverage to compel overtime sessions by killing must-pass legislation.

by Jasper Scherer and Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune March 29, 2025May 22, 2025