Texas Voters Rally For Legal Hemp Products Despite Austin’s Pushback

If you’ve been wondering where Texans stand on hemp-derived products, the latest numbers might surprise you — and they’re not what some lawmakers in Austin want to hear.

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The Poll

A brand-new statewide poll from McLaughlin & Associates — the same folks who worked with President Trump’s campaign in 2024 — shows a whopping 79% of Texas voters support legal, consumable hemp-derived products with commonsense safety regulations. Only 13% are opposed, which is about as close to political consensus as you get these days.

READ MORE: Texas Hemp Brand Hometown Hero Fires Back at Dan Patrick with 'Dan’s Delight' Deal

And here’s the kicker: support has grown nearly 10% since Governor Greg Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3 earlier this year, a measure that would have banned certain hemp-derived products. The numbers suggest that efforts to outlaw these items aren’t lining up with what the public wants.

Bipartisan and Broad-Based

This isn’t a red-or-blue issue. The poll shows 75% of Republicans, 81% of Democrats, and 82% of Independents are on board. Even among traditionally conservative groups, support stays strong:

• Trump voters: 76%

• Conservatives: 75%

• Evangelicals: 74%

• Regular churchgoers: 71%

• Seniors: 78%

That’s not just a majority — that’s a Texas-sized majority.

READ MORE: Texas Senate Passes Senate Bill 3: A Major Ban On THC Products Statewide

Industry Says Ban Would Hurt Farmers & Small Businesses

Brian Swensen, Executive Director of the Hemp Industry & Farmers of America said:

This represents a clear case of government overreach. Restricting lawfully operating businesses and limiting farmers’ ability to grow federally compliant crops goes against everything the state of Texas stands for. Texas has built its reputation on free enterprise and limited government interference, not bureaucratic mandates that crush small businesses and agricultural innovation.

Swensen says any elected official who ignores these poll numbers risks real backlash at the ballot box.

How We Got Here

Hemp — which is different from marijuana because it contains less than 0.3% THC — was legalized nationwide under President Trump’s 2018 Farm Bill. Since then, the hemp-derived market has exploded, creating new revenue streams for Texas farmers and small businesses.

Critics of SB3 say a ban would wipe out an entire industry, hurt rural economies, and do little to address actual safety concerns, which could instead be handled through testing, packaging, and age restrictions.

For now, the message from voters seems loud and clear: regulate it, don’t ban it. Whether Austin listens — well, that’s another story entirely.