Curious About Texas Senate Bill SB 5 (2025)? Here’s all the info we could gather.
Title & Sponsor: Introduced July 21, 2025 by Senator Charles Perry (R–Lubbock) and co‑sponsored by multiple Republican senators (LegiScan Bill Summary).
Purpose: Regulates consumable hemp products; prohibits products containing detectable THC (including Δ‑8, Δ‑9, Δ‑10), while permitting CBD and CBG products. Establishes licensing, fees, and criminal penalties, including misdemeanors and third‑degree felonies, especially in marketing or sales to minors (Texas Cannabis News).
Legislative movement: Passed Senate committee, then passed Senate by a 21–8 vote. Companion House Bill 5 (HB 5) mirrors SB 5 and is advancing simultaneously (Houston Chronicle coverage). v
THC ban: Any detectable THC in consumable hemp products is banned; CBD and CBG remain legal.
Age limits & marketing: Sale limited to adults 21+. Strict bans on marketing or packaging targeting minors.
Licensing & registration: New licensing requirements with associated fees for producers and retailers (Texas Policy Research).
Penalties: Personal possession: Class C misdemeanor; sales/manufacturing: progressively severe, up to third‑degree felony (Chronicle Breakdown).
Medical and research exemptions: Products under the Compassionate Use Program and federal GRAS‑approved hemp seed ingredients exempted (MySanAntonio Analysis).
Context: SB 5 revives Senate Bill 3, vetoed by Governor Abbott in June. Perry claims SB 5 reflects Abbott’s requested changes—mainly preserving CBD legality. Abbott had preferred regulation over prohibition (Abbott’s Position via Community Impact).
Supporters: Law enforcement groups and organizations such as Citizens for a Safe and Healthy Texas argue the bill protects minors and ensures public safety (MySanAntonio Report).
Critics: Industry groups warn of the impact on the estimated $5B Texas hemp market and job loss (~50,000 jobs), also alleging the law would create a state monopoly under the Compassionate Use Program (Houston Chronicle Column).
University of Chicago Study: Found adolescents perform worse on memory and reaction tasks at low doses of THC due to slower brainwave pattern transitions.
CHU Sainte‑Justine Research: Shows cannabis use before age 16 may thin brain’s cortex, affecting learning and memory development.
APA Overview: Summarizes scientific consensus on adolescent brain risks—cognitive impairment, academic decline, higher addiction risk.
Cannabis & Health Study: Warns THC/CBD can interact with SSRIs in teens, raising blood levels and risk of side effects.
UCSD Study: Finds ~3% of healthy teens used CBD; 24% of positive testers had unintentional THC exposure.
Medical Xpress Report: Cites increases in youth vaping THC, often with limited knowledge of contents.
Senate vote: Passed 21–8, July 28, 2025.
House companion bill: HB5 is moving in parallel; final approval needed before special session ends.
Governor’s role: Abbott previously vetoed SB3 but supports regulating intoxicating THC; his current posture suggests he may sign SB5 if its provisions are adjusted accordingly (Editorial Insight).
Texas Tribune – Full SB5 Timeline
Hometown Hero – Bill Tracker with Daily Updates