Texas judge could soon allow hemp businesses to sell THC products again

Texas smoke shops could soon be allowed to sell currently-banned THC products if a Travis County judge grants a temporary restraining order.Texas THC bansThe so-called "Total THC" rules went into effect on July 31 after a Texas Supreme Court ruling. The rules were initially adopted in 2021 before years of court battles pushed back enforcement.At the heart of the new regulations a 0.3% THC limit for consumable hemp products. The rules also required testing as well as child-resistant packaging and testing. Licensing fees for retailers were also hiked from about $250 to $10,000 in some cases.Delta-8, Delta-10, and several related THC products are affected by the ban.Delta-9 products are exempt due to state and federal laws allowing them in a naturally occurring form, provided that they don't exceed the .3% by dry weight.Traditional cannabis is illegal in Texas, but the hemp-derived THC became popular after Congress unintentionally created a legal loophole with the 2018 Farm Bill, which le