Texas governor vetoes bill that would ban all THC products
Associated Press22 hrs
Gov. Abbott Vetoes Texas THC Ban
Above: Gov. Greg Abbott in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Image copyright: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Abbott’s decision to veto SB 3 was entirely rational. The bill in its current form was effectively unviable, being open to permanent invalidation by the courts or years-long delays due to constitutional obstacles and its non-compliance with federal law. What Texas needs is a swift and enforceable solution; a model based on alcohol’s regulatory structure would achieve that.
Narrative B
The governor’s veto is a betrayal of those Texan families whose loved ones’ lives have been destroyed by drug abuse. Rather than articulating his concerns from the beginning, Abbott chose to remain silent until the very last moment to scupper a bill that would have tackled Texas’ drug crisis and was proudly supported by Republicans, law enforcement, and the medical community.