In a fiery and emotionally charged press conference on Monday, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick sharply criticized Gov. Greg Abbott for vetoing Senate Bill 3 (SB 3), a measure that would have banned the production, sale, and possession of hemp-derived THC products in the state. The veto, announced just after midnight over the weekend, has created a deep rift between the state's top two Republican leaders — and possibly signaled deeper political tensions over the future of marijuana policy in Texas.
A Clash of Conservative Titans
SB 3 had been one of Patrick’s marquee legislative priorities during the session. While the bill received mixed media coverage and public reactions, it had backing from a cross-section of law enforcement officials, medical professionals, and educators who expressed concern over the unregulated spread of intoxicating hemp products such as Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC.
At Monday’s press event, Patrick emphasized that this was not a personal pet project but a consensus measure: “This is not a Dan Patrick bill. This is a bill that reasonable people in professions that know best—from medicine to law enforcement to education—said they all support.”
But in a surprising move, Abbott vetoed the legislation, arguing in a detailed veto proclamation that SB 3 posed “valid constitutional challenges” and was likely to be struck down in court, as similar laws have been in other states.
“As a former Supreme Court Justice and Attorney General of Texas,” Abbott wrote, “I know that Senate Bill 3 is vulnerable to the same legal attacks.”
Patrick, however, didn’t mince words in his response, openly questioning both Abbott’s legal rationale and his intentions: “How does he know that?” Patrick asked rhetorically. “The idea that we can’t ban the product has already been upheld by the higher courts on multiple occasions.”
A Surprising Accusation: “Does the Governor Want Legal Marijuana?”
The most pointed moment came when Patrick speculated about Abbott’s underlying motives: “Whether it’s unintentional and he didn’t think through it, or whether it’s intentional, the result of the deal is that the governor of the State of Texas wants to legalize recreational marijuana.”
While Abbott has not publicly endorsed recreational marijuana, Patrick implied that the governor’s veto could pave the way for de facto legalization by keeping intoxicating hemp products widely available. He said his prior conversations with Abbott gave him no reason to anticipate a veto.
“He said, ‘Your bill is fine,’” Patrick recalled. “We get this proclamation from him last night, after midnight, and he parachutes in at the last moment with arguments that we do not think are valid.”
A Broader Battle Over Hemp and Influence
Patrick went further, suggesting that powerful forces may be at work behind the scenes to protect the hemp industry in Texas — and raised the specter of criminal influence.
“We have no idea who’s making this product,” Patrick said. “Are they terrorists? Is it just a terrorist money laundering scheme in Texas? Is it a cartel money laundering scheme?”
He also alleged that he had been threatened over his support for SB 3, though he declined to elaborate, only saying: “Someone told me I better watch my step.”
No Love Lost — But No Personal Grudge?
Despite the blistering tone, Patrick insisted multiple times that he’s “not mad at the governor,” though he admitted he is “not happy that he vetoed and how he did it.”
“I think the governor should give the benefit of the doubt to the Legislature and to law enforcement, and to everyone in medicine and everyone in education,” Patrick said, adding that Abbott stood alone in his opposition: “He’s the only guy that didn’t want this bill passed, except the people in the business making a fortune on poisoning our kids.”
Patrick doubled down on his own stance against marijuana legalization. “I’m not going to legalize marijuana in Texas, and if people want to vote me out of office for that, so be it.”
What’s Next: A Special Session in July
With tensions simmering, the Texas Legislature is now set to reconvene in a special session on July 21. According to Patrick, SB 3 will be the first item on the agenda.
Whether Abbott will change his position, offer a compromise, or face growing dissent within his own party remains to be seen. For now, the veto has sparked a dramatic and very public policy clash at the highest levels of state government — one that could shape Texas’ approach to hemp, THC, and marijuana for years to come.
