Senate Bill 3, which would ban all non-medical hemp-derived cannabis products statewide, passed the Texas Senate on March 19.
The Texas House of Representatives still needs to approve the bill by June 2, and it would need to be signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott before it could completely go into effect. However, the House still has to consider House Bill 28, a bill concerning the regulation of hemp products, rather than an entire ban.
Texas law currently permits less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, in hemp-derived products. Consumables with only cannabidiol, also known as CBD, and cannabigerol, or CBG, would be permitted for retail sale under the bill. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said a top priority in this year’s legislative session is to pass a ban on THC products in Texas.
“Since 2019, retailers across Texas have exploited a state agriculture law to sell life-threatening, unregulated forms of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to Texans, including children,” Patrick said in a news release. “These stores, which often target children with their marketing, have popped up across the state, threatening the safety of our communities. Today, the Texas Senate drew a line in the sand and passed SB 3 to ban all forms of intoxicating THC.”
The Glassmith is a smoke shop with four locations across Austin, including one in West Campus. Employee David Kleinhans said if a student wants a product with THC, they will travel to get it — it is not an issue of proximity or number of smoke shops near the University.
“We have several people of all types of age differences, and everything comes up here,” said Kleinhans, a psychology and sociology junior. “We serve the Austin community. Just like any other store, we’re going to have a multitude of clientele that come up here.”
Faisal Saleh, a human dimensions of organization senior, is a customer of The Glassmith. He said he uses THC products to relieve stress and focus on his studies.
“I have a firm rule with myself: Monday through Friday, unless all homework is complete, which usually wouldn’t be until Wednesday at earliest, I don’t smoke at all,” Saleh said. “It’s a weekend thing I do.”
Studio art junior Sabina Guardado is an assistant manager of The Glassmith and has worked there for a little over a year. Guardado said she does not want SB 3 or a direct ban on THC to pass, and instead would rather a bill pass that focuses on creating stricter rules and regulations to prevent selling THC products to minors.
“I would assume my job would be in jeopardy, as well as all my co-workers,” Guardado said. “We’d probably rely mostly on our nicotine products after that. I don’t think it would be good for The Glassmith at all.”
