Texas Ban on THC Vapes Now in Effect 

Texas’ ban on the sale of hemp-derived THC vapes begins this week, KUT News reports. Under the law passed last June, it is now a Class A misdemeanor to sell or market any vape containing cannabinoids, even if the active ingredients would otherwise be legal under state and federal law. Penalties for breaking the law is up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.  

The law does not explicitly ban possession of the products. 

The ban on hemp-derived THC vapes was included in a broader piece of legislation that also targets e-cigarettes disguised to look like pens, pencils, smartphones, or other products often found in schools. It also prohibits selling or marketing vapes that contain alcohol, kratom, kava, or mushrooms and outlaws vape products made in China or in any country designated as a foreign adversary of the United States.  

During a special session two weeks ago, the state Senate passed a more comprehensive bill to outlaw any consumable hemp product that contains THC; however, the bill has not yet passed the House. In June, Gov. Greb Abbott (R) had vetoed a bill to ban THC hemp products, which drew the ire of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) who, in a statement following the passage Senate Bill 6, claimed “bad actors” had “taken advantage of a loophole in Texas agriculture law to sell potent, intoxicating forms of THC that have nothing to do with agriculture.”  

It’s unclear whether Abbott would veto the bill again were it to pass the Legislature.