A Travis County judge has temporarily blocked key aspects of Texas’s new hemp regulations, allowing companies to continue selling cannabis flower and concentrates. The ruling, by Judge Daniela Deceta Little, prevents state health officials from enforcing a new “total delta-9 THC” standard that counted THCA against legal limits for consumable hemp products. THCA converts to delta-9 THC when heated, the main psychoactive component in cannabis. The judge also blocked increased fees for businesses and daily penalties for violations.
Jason Snell, an attorney for the plaintiffs, hailed the decision, arguing that it prevents illegal regulations from crippling the hemp industry. The injunction is crucial for businesses, as a previous temporary restraining order was set to expire. The ruling has broad implications for the state’s hemp market, benefiting all companies, not just those involved in the lawsuit.
While the injunction halts controversial new regulations, it does not affect uncontested provisions, like child-proof packaging and age restrictions. The state plans to appeal, and the injunction will remain until a trial on July 27, which seeks a permanent ban on the new rules. The ruling followed a Texas Supreme Court decision allowing cannabis companies to sue while considering delta-8 THC products under controlled substances.
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