Governor Abbott Faces Tough Questions on Texas THC Ban Bill

On June 4, 2025, when pressed about his stance on Senate Bill 3 (SB3)—the controversial measure to ban all THC products in Texas—Governor Greg Abbott dodged the question with practiced ambiguity. “It’s one of nearly 1,000 bills on my desk,” he said coolly. “Each will get the time and consideration it deserves.” His vague response left supporters and opponents of the bill fuming, desperate for clarity on a policy that could reshape Texas’s economy and personal freedoms.

Abbott’s office has stonewalled further inquiries. Spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris offered only a canned line: the governor will “thoughtfully review all legislation.” This opacity has fueled rampant speculation about Abbott’s next move. Political analyst Bob Stein from Rice University suggests Abbott is wary of signing a bill that could enrage his conservative base, given the hemp industry’s $8 billion economic footprint and its lifeline for veterans managing pain and PTSD. Others suspect he might let SB3 become law without a signature, dodging a direct clash with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the bill’s fiercest champion.

Fierce Opposition: Veterans, Businesses, and Farmers Unite

The backlash against SB3 is a bipartisan tidal wave. On June 2, 2025, the Texas Hemp Business Council stormed Abbott’s office with 5,000 letters and a petition boasting 120,000 signatures, demanding a veto. Industry leaders warn the ban would gut small businesses, wipe out 50,000 jobs, and push consumers toward dangerous black markets. “This threatens tens of thousands of hardworking Texans,” said Adyson Howard, owner of Wild Concepts, a THC and CBD dispensary. “We need regulation, not annihilation.”

Veterans are among the bill’s loudest critics. At a recent press conference, Texas VFW senior vice commander Dave Walden shared how THC gummies eased his chronic pain and PTSD from combat deployments. “This ban is about control, not safety,” he said, voice cracking. “Veterans are collateral damage.” Opponents also cite Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ 2024 veto of a similar bill, which he rejected to protect jobs, as a blueprint Abbott could follow.

Farmers are equally alarmed, warning that SB3 could decimate Texas’s hemp industry. Heather Fazio of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center explained that isolating CBD without trace THC is nearly impossible, threatening the entire supply chain. “This could obliterate an $8 billion industry,” she said, slamming lawmakers for putting politics over pragmatism.

A Political Tightrope

Abbott faces a brutal dilemma. Signing SB3 aligns him with Patrick’s hardline crusade but risks alienating business owners and veterans, key pillars of his base. Vetoing it could ignite a showdown with Patrick, potentially forcing a special legislative session to hammer out regulations instead. Letting the bill become law without a signature might be his escape hatch, as some X users speculate. “He won’t sign it and anger his base