THC vendors must now age-verify customers with IDs after Gov. Greg Abbott directed state health and public safety agencies to regulate the sale of THC products in a Sept. 10 executive order. The order also bans THC sales to people under age 21.

The governor said in a press release he issued the order because the Texas lawmakers failed to pass legislation banning or regulating THC products like gummies or cannabis oil.

Abbott said his executive order would ensure safety for kids, give parents peace of mind and assure customers their THC products are labeled and tested properly. THC products would benefit from the legislature setting specific rules and regulations, like the ones already in place for alcohol and tobacco, he said.

“Texas will not wait when it comes to protecting children and families,” Abbott said in a press release.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick disagreed with the governor’s order, advocating for Senate Bill 3, which would have imposed a total ban on THC products. SB 3 passed both the Texas House and Senate earlier this year, but Abbott vetoed it because it would face constitutional and legal challenges, according to the governor’s legislative statement.

“The Governor’s executive order, intentionally or not, has sent a signal to the THC industry that they have a state seal of approval on the current THC market,” Patrick wrote in a press release.

Mark Bordas, executive director for The Texas Hemp Business Council, a lobbying and advocacy group that represents THC producers, sellers and consumers, said the industry supports the governor’s order. Bordas said the majority of properly licensed sellers have always verified customers’ ages and not sold to people under 21 years old.

“There were a few bad actors that would sell to people and wouldn’t bother to card,” Bordas said. “We wanted to clean up our own industry because any bad actor gives the entire industry a black eye.”

Bordas said the governor was “forced” to take action to overcome the disagreement among leaders and to avoid the prohibition of THC. He said, overall, the executive order prioritizes a regulatory framing instead of prohibitionist one and protects adult access to THC products. THC regulation is something that will need to be addressed in future legislative sessions, he said.

“For now, we couldn’t be more pleased that the governor is taking this action and trying to protect the youth,” Bordas said.