The state of Texas has come up with new emergency regulations that limit the sale of hemp intoxicants to adults aged 21 years and above. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) adopted the rules and is seeking to ensure that minors do not buy hemp-derived products, which have a psychoactive compound, THC, which is found in cannabis.
Emergency Rules and Their Scope.
The emergency regulations disarm liquor licensees, including liquor stores, bars, and restaurants, from selling hemp-derived THC products to minors below the age of 21 years. The retailers have to ensure that they check the age of the buyers by screening the IDs at the point of sale. These regulations would come into effect once they were adopted, but will be enforced on October 1. Those businesses that do not comply are likely to lose their TABC permit/license.
It should also be mentioned that the current regulations cover approximately 60,000 license holders of TABC. But numerous other retailers who sell intoxicating hemp items, including smoke shops, gas stations, and online retailers, are subject to the Texas Department of State Health Services, which should develop similar regulations.
Background and Reason for the Rules
The move follows Governor Greg Abbott’s directive earlier in September 2025, calling for stricter oversight of psychoactive hemp substances. These intoxicants are often made in labs using CBD extracted from hemp flowers, but produce effects similar to THC found in marijuana.
The new rules address the issue of the dangers of using THC in young people, as well as the higher risks of mental health issues, including psychosis, depression, and suicidal tendencies. Experts also confirm that the premature use of these intoxicants may negatively impact brain development and the general level of safety in society.
The rules fill a regulatory gap after previous legislative attempts to ban or strictly regulate hemp intoxicants failed to pass. The Texas legislature had proposed bills banning THC in consumable hemp, but Governor Abbott vetoed such measures, citing legal challenges. Instead, the emergency rules offer a quicker method to regulate sales and protect minors.
Economic and Industry Impact
Texas has a large and growing hemp industry with more than 8,000 vendors and annual sales valued in the billions of dollars. The emergency rules impact this market by limiting sales of intoxicating hemp products to adults while keeping industrial hemp and non-intoxicating CBD and CBG products available.
The balance sought by Texas regulators aims to protect public health without fully banning hemp. The enforcement of these emergency rules represents the state’s commitment to tighter control over intoxicating hemp in the absence of permanent legislation.