AUSTIN, TX — Hundreds of Texans flooded the State Capitol today to testify in opposition to two bills that threaten to dismantle the state’s hemp industry and criminalize consumers who use federally legal hemp products. The House Committee on State Affairs heard testimony on House Bill 28, while advocates focused intense criticism on Senate Bill 3, calling it the more extreme and damaging of the two proposals.
From those who couldn’t attend in person, 1300 public comments on SB 3 and 1000+ on HB 28 were submitted online, nearly all against banning THC for adults.
SB 3, passed by the Senate last month, would ban all consumable hemp products that contain any amount of any cannabinoid other than CBD and CBG—including minor, non-impairing cannabinoids that have been sold legally in Texas since 2019. HB 28 would also criminalize most non-impairing cannabinoids, but allows natural THC Delta 9 in hemp-infused beverages and places regulatory authority under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). The committee substitute bill can be found here.
More than 15 hours of public testimony was provided by advocates from across the state—veterans, healthcare professionals, small business owners, patients, and consumers—all warning lawmakers that both bills would have devastating consequences for public health, the economy, and personal freedom.
“The Texas VFW strongly opposes SB 3, which will ban an effective, affordable, and accessible alternative to the harmful pharmaceutical cocktail of opioids and anti-depressants utilized by thousands of Veterans,” said Mitch Fuller, Federal and State Legislative Chairman for the Texas VFW. “Now we’re fighting to preserve our freedom to make responsible health care choices, including access to legal hemp-derived products that have transformed our lives. Senate Bill 3 would eliminate these therapeutic options that many veterans rely on to manage service-connected conditions.”
Medical professionals also expressed serious concerns about the impact on patients using plant-based therapies to manage chronic illnesses and mental health conditions.
“As a clinical expert, business owner, nonprofit founder, and caregiver to my husband living with young-onset Parkinson’s, I’ve seen firsthand the life-changing benefits of plant-based medicine. Cannabis is not a poison—it’s a safe, natural, God-given tool that can provide real healing when used responsibly. I’m here to urge lawmakers to move forward with compassion and education—not fear and misinformation,” said Courtney Holmes, a healthcare professional and caregiver.
Industry experts and policy advocates emphasized that Texas already has regulatory tools in place to govern consumable hemp and that banning products outright would eliminate thousands of jobs, close compliant businesses, and encourage unregulated, underground markets.
Veterans like Trevon Ferguson, a U.S. Army veteran living with epilepsy and PTSD, spoke powerfully about the real-world benefits of hemp and the risk of taking those options away from the people who need them most.
“As a veteran living with epilepsy, chronic pain, and PTSD, hemp products have been life-changing for me. Banning them would hurt the very people they’re helping—veterans, patients, and families across Texas. We don’t need prohibition—we need smart regulation that protects access and ensures safety,” Ferguson said.
Texans testifying throughout the day made it clear: the state should focus on improving product safety, labeling, and access for adults—not criminalizing consumers or dismantling an industry that has created jobs, generated tax revenue, and provided alternative care solutions to thousands.
“Texans want safe, regulated access—not more arrests, not more economic disruption, and certainly not a return to failed drug war policies,” said Heather Fazio, Director of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center. “SB 3 is a terrible bill—and we’re calling on lawmakers to vote it down.”