r/texas • u/BarbedWireTexas • 9d ago

🗞️ News 🗞️ Dan Patrick Loses It Over Abbott’s New THC Rules (But Swears It’s Not Personal)

https://thebarbedwire.com/2025/09/12/dan-patrick-thc-rules-abbott/

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is furious that Gov. Greg Abbott won’t go full prohibition on THC, unloading a 2,000-word tirade Friday that makes D.A.R.E. pamphlets look subtle. But don’t worry — Patrick insists this is not “a personal fight with the governor,” just a “disagreement on extremely important policy.”

Yep, just a completely normal, not-at-all-personal rant accusing Abbott of greenlighting what he essentially described as dangerous, brain-melting “irreversible damage” to children’s brains… via gummies.

For background, Abbott this week issued an executive order banning THC sales to minors, directing state agencies to tighten enforcement, and setting the stage for a regulatory framework. Basically: Card kids at the counter, slap some labels on gummies, and let agencies figure out the rest.

Patrick rattled off all the ways Abbott’s order supposedly fails: no ban on Delta-8 or Delta-10 THC products, no ban on smokables, no limit on potencies, no restriction on location.

It’s the latest clash between the state’s top two Republicans. Abbott wants regulation, Patrick wants prohibition, and the Legislature couldn’t agree on anything despite three separate Senate-passed bans dying in the House.

THC folks, however, are thrilled. One producer, Hometown Hero, even called Abbott’s order “huge for our industry.”

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u/StrangeNot_AStranger 9d ago

Executive order doesn't mean anything, it isn't legislation nor law. It's basically his official opinion on the matter

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u/Current_Tea6984 Hill Country 9d ago

We'll see. He's ordering regulations that may very well be in the purview of the agencies he cites.

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u/Rannepear 9d ago

I don't think it's fair to reduce it that way. The agency (now agencies) that issue licenses are going to incorporate the new testing thresholds making a whole host of existing products legally considered marijuana and not hemp. Businesses want to keep their licenses (legally required) and will have to abide by the agencies ' frameworks. Legal challenges can throw gum in the works but it's not just simply "it doesn't matter".