Texas Hemp Advocates Close In on 150,000 Signatures Urging Governor Abbott to Reject Senate Bill 3

Public Pressure Intensifies Ahead of June 22 Deadline as Texans Mobilize to Protect Legal Hemp-Derived Products

AUSTIN, Texas — A grassroots surge is sweeping across Texas in response to Senate Bill 3, a controversial piece of legislation that would ban the sale of intoxicating hemp products in the state. With just days left until Governor Greg Abbott’s June 22 deadline to act, the Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC) has reported a dramatic rise in citizen engagement, fueled by fears that the proposed law would devastate a multi-billion-dollar industry, eliminate tens of thousands of jobs, and restrict consumer access to regulated hemp-derived THC products.

As of June 18, the THBC’s petition to stop the legislation had amassed 147,979 signatures, a figure that continues to grow. The organization, which represents hemp farmers, small businesses, veterans, and patients across the state, delivered over 118,000 signatures and 5,000 handwritten letters to the governor’s office earlier this month. Since then, additional waves of support have arrived via email, text, and social media platforms.

SB 3 Would Criminalize Federally Legal Hemp Products and Reverse Five Years of Regulatory Progress

Senate Bill 3 proposes a sweeping ban on hemp-derived cannabinoid products that are currently legal under both federal and Texas state law, including those containing delta-8 THC, delta-10, and other minor cannabinoids. These products have become a cornerstone of the state’s hemp economy since the passage of House Bill 1325 in 2019, which created a regulatory framework for production, testing, and sale.

Under HB 1325, hemp products must adhere to strict THC limits, undergo full-panel laboratory testing, and include accessible certificates of analysis. Businesses also must comply with rigorous licensing, packaging, and labeling requirements. Advocates argue that SB 3 would dismantle this carefully constructed regulatory system and drive consumers toward unsafe, unregulated black market alternatives.

In economic terms, the hemp industry contributes an estimated $4.3 billion annually to the Texas economy and supports more than 53,000 jobs. Advocates warn that SB 3 would eliminate this revenue and employment base overnight, while failing to address public health or safety in a meaningful way.

Republican Voters Split Over Hemp Ban as New Polls Reveal Bipartisan Support for Access and Regulation

Public opposition to SB 3 is not confined to the hemp industry. A new poll conducted by Ragnar Research Partners, a GOP-aligned firm, indicates that Texas Republican primary voters are deeply divided on the issue. Among the key findings:

• 47% of Republican voters oppose banning hemp products, compared to just 37% in favor.
  
• 53% believe a ban would benefit drug cartels, and 55% believe it would increase black market activity.
  
• 72% of respondents support allowing veterans access to THC products as an alternative to opioids.
  

These findings align with earlier polling by Baselice & Associates, which showed that 68% of Texas likely voters favor the legal and regulated sale of THC hemp products. That support crosses party lines, age groups, and geographic regions, underscoring the widespread rejection of a return to prohibitionist policies.

Veterans, Farmers, and Small Business Owners Lead the Fight Against a Return to Prohibition

Opponents of SB 3 emphasize that the bill threatens not just businesses, but also the medical autonomy of veterans and chronic pain sufferers who have found relief through legal hemp-derived products. They view the proposed legislation as a politically motivated move that ignores evidence-based policymaking in favor of lobbying pressure from entrenched industries, such as Big Alcohol and vertically integrated marijuana monopolies.

The Texas Hemp Business Council and its allies are urging the governor to stand with small businesses and everyday Texans instead of supporting legislation they view as regressive and economically harmful. They argue that true leadership requires preserving the rights of consumers to access safe, regulated alternatives and upholding the market protections already established by state law.

Governor Abbott Faces Growing Political Pressure With Only Days Left to Act

Governor Greg Abbott has until June 22 to either sign Senate Bill 3 into law, veto it outright, or allow it to take effect without his signature. As the deadline approaches, the voices of constituents across Texas continue to rise in opposition, backed by both polling data and a rapidly growing petition.

With nearly 150,000 signatures already collected, and over 200,000 Texans voicing opposition through various channels, the outcome now rests with the governor. Advocates hope that the scale of public concern, the economic stakes, and the clear voter sentiment will be enough to persuade him to veto SB 3 and preserve Texas’ legal hemp framework.