Saying Goodbye to the High: Bill could outlaw THC products in Abilene, sparking local outcry

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Texas House Bill 3 proposes a ban on the sale and consumption of any product containing any amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but what will the move mean for Texans who rely on these types of products for alternative medical uses?

It comes in gummies, chocolates, or even just the traditional flower form. THC products can be found in a variety of styles with uses that span beyond simply recreational. Texas Senate Bill 3, which has now passed both the Texas Senate and House, seeks to completely ban the consumption and sale of hemp products that contain any amount of THC, though it would not affect the sale of non-psychoactive cannabinoids such as CBD and CBG.

Brittany Manske, the owner of the Abilene CBD House of Healing, expressed concerns about the bill and claimed that Texas lawmakers are mischaracterizing the product she sells.

“The picture that Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has painted just doesn’t apply to businesses like ours. We operate with integrity, high standards in regards to quality and safety,” Manske said.

The bill is now on Governor Greg Abbott’s desk and just needs his signature to become Texas law. Now, many who rely on the product as a substitute for various treatments for both medical and mental ailments are voicing their concerns about this action.

One of those individuals is retired Veteran Andrew Peterson, who regularly uses THC products to help with pain management from injuries he sustained while he was serving, and says that more military members like him are switching to using THC products as a safer alternative than other coping mechanisms.

“I feel like when people get out of the military, it’s a lot better than choosing to go directly to alcohol and ruining their lives and going down that rabbit hole,” Peterson explained.

Valerie Armstrong said that she uses THC products for a variety of ailments, including both physical and mental, and speaks to the benefits of the product, as well as proposing monetary ventures that could benefit the state. 

“It is good for people who have cancer. It helps them eat. It helps them get through their day. You say this is going to affect our kids? Yeah, it could affect our kids,” Armstrong said. “You know what we could do? We could take the money from the taxes. We can no longer make kids pay for school food.”

At this point, no action has been taken by the governor’s office regarding SP3, but Brittany Manske says she’s not waiting around and has decided to take action. Manske and her business have set up a petition to veto Texas Senate Bill 3 and are seeking 100,000 signatures to present to Governor Abbott.

If the bill is signed into law, the ban will take effect in September of this year. However, the proposed law will not apply to individuals in Texas who possess a license for medical THC use.