As lawmakers in Austin debate Senate Bill 3, which seeks to ban all consumable hemp products in Texas, a growing chorus of military veterans is pushing back—arguing that the legislation threatens their health, freedom, and dignity.
“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.”
SB 3, currently advancing through the Texas Legislature, would prohibit the sale of all consumable hemp products—cannabinoids like delta-8 and delta-9 derived from hemp—even those that are currently legal under both state and federal law. The proposal, championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, has drawn sharp criticism from health professionals, business owners, and veterans alike.
Dan Hobson, a U.S. veteran and founder of Rise Recovery Services Inc., penned a recent op-ed warning that SB 3’s punitive approach could backfire.
“Senate Bill 3 — banning all consumable hemp — will likely increase fentanyl poisoning, fuel a synthetic-drug market and contribute to a rise in crime,” Hobson wrote in the San Antonio Express-News. “We all want to improve safety. Unfortunately, SB3 takes an illusionary approach with dangerous consequences.”
Veterans like Trevon Ferguson, a U.S. Army veteran living with epilepsy and PTSD, testified to the life-changing impact hemp products have had on his well-being.
“As a veteran living with epilepsy, chronic pain, and PTSD, hemp products have been life-changing for me,” Ferguson said. “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.”
At a recent hearing, Dave Walden, State Senior Vice Commander of the Texas VFW, delivered hard-hitting testimony in opposition to SB 3’s proposed ban. Like many veterans, he turned to hemp products after experiencing negative side effects from VA-prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines.
“Then I found a legal alternative – hemp-derived consumables. Since 2018, I haven’t touched opioids or sleep meds. I’ve rebuilt my life, my career, and my family. But SB 3 threatens to rip that away – from me and thousands of other veterans.”
Texas veterans aren’t asking for special treatment—they’re calling for common sense. Many advocate for tighter regulation, age restrictions, and clear labeling standards to ensure products are safe and responsibly used. What they oppose is the blanket ban proposed by SB 3.
To read more about Senate Bill 3 and what it would do, visit: Texas Cannabis Policy Overview of SB 3