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Gov. Greg Abbott’s administration is responding to displeasure from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick after vetoing a cannabis-related state senate bill overnight.
“SB 3 was well intentioned but legally flawed and this is why he is putting it on the special session agenda so that it can be fixed, improved and signed into law,” Abbott’s Press Secretary Andrew Mahaleris told Fox News Digital Monday afternoon.
The response comes after Patrick took to social media on Sunday night, and then held a press conference on Monday afternoon claiming that Abbott wants to legalize marijuana in the Lone Star State.
“Throughout the legislative session, @GregAbbott_TX remained totally silent on Senate Bill 3, the bill that would have banned dangerous THC products in Texas,” the lieutenant governor posted to X.
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“His late-night veto, on an issue supported by 105 of 108 Republicans in the legislature, strongly backed by law enforcement, many in the medical and education communities, and the families who have seen their loved ones’ lives destroyed by these very dangerous drugs, leaves them feeling abandoned,” he continued.
“I feel especially bad for those who testified and poured their hearts out on their tragic losses,” Patrick said.
SB 3, which would have banned THC products across Texas is now on the agenda for a special legislative session in July.
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Abbott said SB 3 “would never go into effect because of valid constitutional challenges” in his veto proclamation.
“Texans on each side of the Senate Bill 3 debate raise serious concerns,” Abbott wrote. “But one thing is clear—to ensure the highest level of safety for minors, as well as for adults, who obtain a product more dangerous than what they expected, Texas must strongly regulate hemp, and it must do so immediately.”
“We should not risk years of potential legal battles when we can fix the bill and protect kids now. Governor Abbott looks forward to working with the legislature to pass a strong bill that is on sound legal footing,” the statement from Abbott’s office concluded.
Texas Hemp Business Council, which opposes SB 3, posted a statement to Facebook following Abbott’s veto.
“By vetoing SB 3, he stood with millions of Texans, protected 53,000+ jobs,— and rejected the lies, donors, and Dan Patrick’s propaganda crusade. Governor Abbott showed real leadership today. Texas is stronger for it,” the statement said.
“You cannot regulate 8–9000 locations,” Patrick said of cannabis stores during his news conference. “We do not have enough law enforcement to do so, and they’ll continue to sell it, skirting the law.”
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