What Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order Means
Greg Abbott just dropped an executive order on hemp that could flip the industry on its head. On paper, it looks like regulation. In reality, it could mean the end of THCA flower in Texas, a handoff of distribution power to liquor stores, and another example of cannabis operators getting the short end of the stick. The TDR Trade to Black podcast with host Shadd Dales and co-host Anthony Varrell is back to break it all down. Michael Bronstein, President of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, gives us the Insider Edge.
We’ll also break down the press conference in Chicago, where Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pam Bondi announced a large-scale seizure of illicit vape products, with reports citing approximately 600,000 units removed from the market. Is this a sign federal agencies may be laying groundwork for rescheduling, particularly given the Department of Justice’s decision to scrap dozens of regulatory proposals? We’ll discuss.
Attention then shifts to Texas, where Governor Abbott issued an executive order introducing sweeping hemp regulations. Early interpretations suggested liquor stores might dominate distribution, favoring big alcohol interests, but guest Michael Bronstein clarifies that current hemp retailers will remain primary sellers—though many will face rezoning challenges, particularly near schools and churches. He emphasizes that enforcement will hinge on forthcoming rulemaking, including potential potency limits, bans on retail hemp flower, and stricter oversight of synthetic cannabinoids like Delta-8.
Together, we’ll unpack what Greg Abbott’s executive order does to the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), how it impacts hemp shops, and what the fallout could look like for cannabis companies that are still dealing with 280E, credit card restrictions, and heavy testing requirements. From potential lawsuits to the fingerprints of big alcohol, what’s happening in Texas is way bigger than one state. This executive order could be the playbook for how hemp and cannabis get carved up across the country — who gets a seat at the table, and who gets left outside. The small shops, the hemp players, the cannabis operators grinding under 280E — everyone’s got skin in this. And Texas just sent a pretty loud signal.
