A new bill filed in the Texas Senate aims to criminalize products containing the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana and hemp, a move that has been a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R).
The legislation, introduced by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), would make possession of such products a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Manufacturing them would carry even steeper penalties, classified as a third-degree felony with sentences ranging from two to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
Jay Maguire of the Texas Hemp Federation criticized the bill, calling it part of a culture war. He and others in the industry have advocated for child-proof packaging, uniform testing, and age restrictions similar to alcohol, but the Texas Legislature has never set an age limit on these products.
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