The state hemp industry received a temporary win this month, but the legal battle continues to grow. In this week’s Texas: No Filter, the lawsuit is explained.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Every week on Texas: No Filter, Political Reporter Natalie Haddad breaks down the state’s latest political trends in language everyone can understand, while showcasing some of DFW’s best coffee shops. Reach out to Natalie with any suggestions for topics to cover or coffee shops to check out.
Texas hemp businesses just got a temporary win in court.
A Travis County district judge has temporarily blocked a statewide ban on certain hemp products in Texas, allowing retailers to continue selling smokable hemp — including flower and pre-rolls — for now.
The temporary injunction, issued April 8, pauses enforcement of the state’s updated rules until at least April 23 while the case moves forward in court.
Under the new state regulations, hemp products containing more than 0.3% THC — including THCA, a compound that can convert into THC when heated — would be prohibited from sale. The judge’s order puts those restrictions on hold for the time being, meaning businesses can continue selling those products until a further decision is made.
The lawsuit was filed by a coalition of hemp industry groups and Texas businesses, including the Texas Hemp Business Council, Hemp Industry & Farmers of America, and several Texas-based dispensaries and manufacturers.
The plaintiffs argue the state’s updated rules would effectively shut down large parts of the legal hemp market. They also claim regulators are overstepping their authority by changing the definition of legal hemp products years after Texas legalized hemp under state law.
State leaders, including Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, have defended tighter restrictions on hemp-derived THC products, citing concerns about public health and safety — particularly when it comes to youth access.
In 2025, Texas lawmakers considered an outright ban on THC products, arguing that stronger regulation was necessary to close loopholes in the current law. It passed, but citing constitutional concerns, Governor Greg Abbott vetoed it.
This is not the first time Texas’s hemp industry has taken legal action against the state.
In 2021, the state moved to classify delta-8 THC — another hemp-derived compound — as illegal. That decision sparked a separate lawsuit that is still making its way through the courts and could be taken up by the Texas Supreme Court as soon as this year.
The temporary injunction keeps smokable hemp products on store shelves for now, but the legal fight is far from over.
A hearing later this month could determine whether the pause is extended or lifted, potentially reshaping the future of Texas’s hemp industry.
For now, both sides are preparing for what could be a longer court battle over how hemp products are regulated in the state.
Unfiltered recommendation of the week: Grounds & Gold in Arlington
The Marigold latte is Natalie’s pick at Grounds & Gold, but she also recommends the gluten-free blueberry lemon loaf and avocado toast.Â