Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick criticized Gov. Greg Abbott in a press conference on Monday following a last-minute veto of Texas Senate Bill 3, which would have banned all recreational tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products in the state.
Patrick claimed Abbott’s veto meant the governor wants to legalize marijuana. Patrick also said the veto came as a surprise to him, and he had little contact with Abbott while the bill was being drafted and passed through the legislature.
“It puzzled me why my friend, Greg Abbott, at the last minute, about 22 minutes after 11 (p.m.) decided to veto this bill,” Patrick said. “I know he gave the reasons in his proclamation, but our team simply doesn’t agree with those reasons. We’ll talk through that.”
Abbott vetoed the bill, citing “valid constitutional challenges,” claiming it conflicts with federal laws that allow for the production of hemp products with 0.3% THC content. He called for a special legislative session to discuss possible regulation of the THC industry in Texas. Patrick said regulating the THC industry would be the same as legalizing marijuana in the state, a move that Patrick is adamantly against.
“Texas must enact a regulatory framework that protects public safety, aligns with federal law, has a fully funded enforcement structure, and can take effect without delay,” Abbott wrote in his proclamation. “Legislators could consider a structure similar to the way alcohol is regulated, with strict enforcement by an agency like the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.”
Patrick said the bill banning consumable THC products in the state had wide support amongst police departments and medical professionals. Now that the ban will not go into effect, he said he is concerned THC consumable products will continue to be distributed at a high rate to the public.
“In reading the proclamation, one can only come to this conclusion: The governor of the state of Texas wants to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas,” Patrick said. “That’s what this proclamation does. Now, whether it’s unintentional and he didn’t think through it, or whether it’s intentional, that’s the result.”
Patrick said regulating the business would be impossible with the state’s current resources, as the state does not have the law enforcement necessary to effectively regulate and monitor the industry.
“The best way to protect the adults or the children is to ban the product,” Patrick said. “You cannot regulate 8,000 to 9,000 locations.”
Patrick said he would not speculate on what would happen in the special session, but also said he does not know if overturning the veto with two-thirds of the legislature is possible. Some of Patrick’s other goals for the special session include looking at bail reform and possible redistricting of the state.
“We can pick up Republican seats in Texas to make Congress stronger, after what the Democrats did to our country in the last four years and what they’re still doing,” Patrick said. “I want more Republican congressmen.”
