Texas Officials Approve Final Intoxicating Hemp Product Regulations

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has approved final regulations for intoxicating hemp product sales. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) on Tuesday approved the final regulations for intoxicating hemp products in the state, The Texas Tribune reports.

The rules, which replace the emergency rules enacted last year following an executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott (R), ban license holders from selling hemp products to people under 21 and require ID checks for every purchase.

TABC Board Chair Robert Eckels said in the report that the restrictions were installed for “the same reasons we regulate alcohol.”

“You need a level of maturity to use these products or it can be very harmful to the kids and the community.” — Eckels, via the Tribune

Meanwhile, TABC officials are working to finalize an inter-agency framework with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), which oversees smoke shops and other retailers not subject to TABC regulations, the report said.

Last month, DSHS published draft rules for the industry that would raise the cost of hemp business licenses in the state by over 13,000%.