Texas Democrats are accusing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick of working to ban hemp THC products to benefit alcohol companies.
Vikki Goodwin, the Democratic lieutenant governor nominee, stated that Patrick took hundreds of thousands of dollars from the alcohol industry. She claimed this money drove the policy around the ban on THC, according to The Beaumont Enterprise. Goodwin is currently a state representative and Patrick’s opponent for reelection this year.
The Bexar County Democratic Party posted on Facebook that hemp is a multi-billion dollar industry. They noted the sector has over 14K small business owners and more than 50K employees. The party asked why Texas Republicans wiped out these businesses.
They suggested the reason could be that Dan Patrick received $275K in donations from beer distributors and alcohol PACs.
Patrick’s campaign committee, Texans for Dan Patrick, reported receiving $275,000 from Silver Eagle Distributors in June. This information comes from a Texas Ethics Commission filing. Silver Eagle Distributors is an alcohol distributor company.
This financial link forms the basis of the Democratic criticism regarding the recent hemp restrictions.
During the last legislative session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick championed legislation to recriminalize many hemp products.
He oversees the Texas Senate and pushed this agenda through the chamber. The bill was ultimately vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Abbott is a Republican who serves as the state governor.
Following the veto, Gov. Abbott issued an executive order on the issue. Regulators have since enacted significant restrictions on derivatives from the hemp crop.
These measures include a ban on certain hemp-derived THC cannabis products. The ban specifically targets products containing delta-8 and delta-10 THC.
These products are now classified as Schedule I drugs under state law. Possession is treated as a felony under the new classification. Punishments include 180 days to two years in prison.
Fines of up to $10,000 are also possible for possession.
A judge declined hemp companies’ request to impose a temporary restraining order on the THC crackdown. This decision came while the overall litigation is considered. The industry is currently fighting the restrictions in court.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico also criticized the ban. He suggested his opponent, Ken Paxton, supports banning cannabis to aid political donors. Talarico said it does not make sense until you follow the money, according to a recent interview.
He identified big beer and big tobacco as the funders of such politicians.
Talarico described keeping marijuana illegal while restricting hemp THC products as an insane form of corruption. He stated that research shows THC products are safer and less addictive than beer or tobacco. He argued that big industries are buying politicians to push bills that harm people but benefit them financially.
This rhetoric highlights the cannabis issue in the upcoming November elections.
Expert Warning On Outdated Testing Dr Georges Petitjean has warned that workplace drug testing has failed to keep pace with…
Event Details Shore House Canna, an adult-use dispensary in West Cape May, New Jersey, will host its 3rd Annual Fall…
Sabalenka Stops Play Over Cannabis Smell Top seed Aryna Sabalenka briefly halted her US Open third-round match against Kamilla Rakhimova…
CBDD Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire BioCannabis CBD of Denver, Inc. (OTCID: CBDD) announced on September 15, 2026 that it…
Seventh Annual New Jersey Cannabis Convention Set NECANN brings the New Jersey Cannabis Convention back to the Atlantic City Convention…
The Violation Vermont Lt. Gov. John Rodgers plans to pay a reduced fine to settle a case involving an unlicensed…
