Gov. Abbott signs executive order banning sale of THC products to those under 21

Abbott bans sale of hemp products to minors

Gov. Abbott issued an executive order that banned the sale of hemp products to minors. But he is also allowing sales for adults under new regulations.

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday signed an executive order banning the sale of hemp products to anyone under the age of 21.

The executive order comes after lawmakers in the House and Senate failed to come to an agreement on legislation to ban the sale of hemp products during both special sessions.

While lawmakers could not agree on a total ban, they did pass a new law that prohibits the sale of THC vapes and disposable vapes from China.

What they're saying:

"Absent the kind of regulations that apply to other psychoactive substances that may be safely enjoyed by adults like alcohol and tobacco, minors have been allowed to purchase these products without any safeguards," the order reads.

Abbott suggested state agencies take an approach similar to what was laid out in House Bill 309 during the second special session. That bill, introduced by state Rep. Briscoe Cain, did not make it past the filing stage.

Here is what the order includes:

• Preventing sales to minors now making it a crime to sell hemp-derived products to them.
• Sales near schools, churches and other sensitive locations are not allowed under the executive order.
• Stores are not allowed to operate within 1,000 feet of those facilities.
• Enhanced testing and increased fees include ongoing monitoring for manufacturers, distributors and retailers.
• The State Health Department is to team up with Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission on regulations.
• Stores who fail to comply could risk losing their licenses.

"There's one thing everybody agreed with, and that is we should ban it for kids. We tried to get that ban passed, and because it didn't pass, I wanted to use this opportunity to make sure that I empowered the state department of health services to do what is already within their regulatory power," said Governor Greg Abbott.

Failed ban on THC products

Texas will regulate hemp products containing THC

Texas will regulate and not ban the sale of hemp products that contain THC. Gov. Abbott made that decision with an executive order.

While Abbott points to lawmakers failing to pass legislation regulating THC during two special sessions as the reason for the executive order, Abbott himself vetoed an outright ban on products during the regular session.

In his veto, Abbott called for better regulations. The ones presented in the executive order.

The move drew anger from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who was a major force in pushing for a complete ban.

"On June 22, 2025, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, vetoed Senate Bill 3…because it would not have provided legally sustainable prohibition on access to hemp-derived products by children, did not respect the liberty of adults to access a lawful product that can be made safe through proper regulation and responsible consumption, and banned a commodity made legal by federal law," Abbott said in his order.

READ THE FULL ORDER BELOW: