War On Hemp (THC)

Texas Cannabis Chaos: Greed, Reefer Madness, and the Fight for Safe Access

By Shane Shipman – September 9, 2025

Texas lawmakers just wrapped up a marathon year of cannabis drama, and what’s left is a mess that says more about greed than about good policy. Medical marijuana firms spent millions trying to shut down the hemp-derived THC industry, lobbying hard for bans on delta-8, delta-9, and other cannabinoids. Their pitch? That only they—three state-licensed companies—should have the right to sell THC. The problem is, their version of “medical access” has been a dead end for most Texans since 2017.

Greed vs. Reality

Texas’ Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) was supposed to be the gateway to relief. Instead, it’s a narrow funnel, serving fewer than 30,000 patients statewide through limited pickup sites. Costs are high, prescriptions are required, and conditions are tightly restricted. Meanwhile, everyday Texans—seniors, veterans, chronic pain sufferers—have found relief through affordable hemp products on the open market.

But instead of fixing their own broken system, the licensed medical companies tried to kneecap the competition. Lobbyists with deep ties to Governor Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pushed bill after bill to outlaw hemp THC products under the guise of “protecting kids.” The result? Three failed prohibition attempts, wasted taxpayer money, and no meaningful progress toward real cannabis reform.

Reefer Madness Redux

If all this sounds familiar, it’s because it is. We’re still dealing with the same “Reefer Madness” scare tactics from the 1930s—painting THC as some existential threat while ignoring the facts. Alcohol kills thousands of Texans each year. Tylenol overdoses send people to the ER daily. Cannabis, by comparison, has never caused a fatal overdose. Yet lawmakers wring their hands over gummies while leaving vodka on every street corner.

The Safety Argument

Here’s the irony: safe access actually exists when products are regulated, tested, and clearly labeled. That’s what hemp retailers have been doing across Texas—selling lab-tested edibles, drinks, and vapes in storefronts that employ 50,000+ workers. Sure, there are gaps—child-resistant packaging and age restrictions need to be consistent—but banning products outright doesn’t solve that. It only drives people to the black market, where there’s zero oversight and plenty of risk.

Veterans Leading the Charge

Thankfully, one of the strongest voices cutting through the noise has been our veterans. Groups like Texas Veterans for Medical Cannabis have shown up in force at the Capitol, testifying that hemp products are helping them manage PTSD, pain, and insomnia when VA prescriptions fail. These are the very people lawmakers claim to honor—yet instead of listening, too many politicians still side with lobbyists chasing monopoly profits.

Where We Go From Here

Governor Abbott’s vetoes and the collapse of multiple special sessions show just how divided Republican leadership is on this issue. Polls make it clear: Texans—Republican, Democrat, independent—want safe, legal access to cannabis. They don’t want reefer madness scare stories or monopoly control. They want fairness, affordability, and common sense.

Until our leaders stop treating cannabis like a political football and start treating it like the public health issue it is, we’ll keep spinning our wheels. Texans deserve better. And if our lawmakers won’t deliver, the people—and the veterans who have our backs—just might force their hand.

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This post draws on reporting and commentary from multiple sources, including Chris Tomlinson’s work in the Houston Chronicle, which provided valuable background on the 2025 legislative battles.