The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued rules on Friday to set the age limit for buying hemp products at 21 years old, KXAN reports.
Officials, looking to comply with an executive order issued by the governor last month, set two emergency rules.
- One rule bans the sale of consumable hemp products to anyone not 21 or older and requires retailers to verify by inspecting a valid ID.
- The other emergency rule enables DSHS officials to revoke the license or registration of any retailer caught selling hemp products to minors.
The rules take effect immediately and will expire after 120 days, with potential for a 60-day extension, the report said.
Earlier this year, Texas lawmakers passed a bill to ban the sale of hemp-derived THC completely — but Gov. Greg Abbott (R) vetoed the proposal and called a special legislative session, asking lawmakers to legislate regulations for the hemp products industry.
The governor issued the executive order after the Legislature failed to reach a deal for the reforms after two special sessions.
