HOUSTON – A new state crackdown on hemp products with certain levels of THC takes effect Tuesday, impacting businesses and customers across Texas.
The change targets smokable hemp products that exceed the legal THC threshold, while still allowing some lower-dose items to remain on store shelves.
For people like Amber Campbell, the shift raises new concerns about how they will manage chronic pain.
“I rely on THC and CBD … just about every day,” Campbell said.
Campbell said she began using hemp-derived products after a surgery left her paralyzed.
“I had a surgery … and two days later, I couldn’t move,” she said.
She said products like THCA flower have helped her manage the pain that comes with using a wheelchair, but many of those items may no longer meet the state’s updated requirements.
Under state and federal law, hemp products must contain less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight to be legal.
The key change now is that Texas will begin factoring in “total THC,” including THCA, a compound that converts into THC when heated.
That shift means smokable products such as THCA flower, pre-rolls and some vape products that exceed the total THC limit will no longer be allowed.
Sandra Campbell, Amber’s mother, owns a CBD American Shaman store in Stafford and said the new rules will significantly impact her business.
“It’s going to affect it quite a bit,” she said.
She said many of the products that drove revenue are expected to disappear.
“Mostly the THCA flower and pre-rolls will be banned,” she said.
Sandra Campbell said her daughter’s experience with chronic pain is what inspired her to open the business.
Now, she said, she is working to adjust.
“I am implementing lots of other medical products and supplements,” she said.
Not all hemp products are being removed from the market.
Edibles such as gummies and THC-infused drinks can still be sold, as long as they remain under the 0.3% THC limit and comply with state regulations.
Still, for some users, those alternatives may not provide the same level of relief.
“I don’t want to go to opioids,” Amber Campbell said.
She also said cost is a concern, noting that prescription pain medications can be expensive, especially for people without insurance.
Texas does allow limited access to THC cannabis through its medical program, but it requires a doctor’s approval and is only available for certain conditions, including epilepsy and cancer.
For others, the changes could mean fewer options moving forward.
“I don’t know,” Amber Campbell said.