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Elections

Hemp industry mobilizes voters against Patrick in lieutenant governor race

Texas hemp shop owners are registering voters and supporting Democratic candidate Vikki Goodwin for lieutenant governor in response to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's push to ban THC products. Patrick has championed hemp restrictions, which state regulators adopted in March, increasing business fees and prohibiting most smokable hemp products.

Where
Statewide
When
October 2026
Sources
One outlet

Taxes and money

None stated in sources.

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • Dan PatrickLieutenant Governor
  • Greg AbbottGovernor
  • Vikki GoodwinDemocratic candidate for lieutenant governor, state representative from Austin
  • Sarah ToddExecutive director, Texas Cannabis Policy Center
  • Estella CastroOwner, Austinite Cannabis Co.
  • Holden HylanderRepresentative, Sherpa, hemp-derived THC product manufacturer
  • Haley HuntCo-owner, Haus of Jayne hemp shop, Dripping Springs
  • Christy SpantonCo-owner, Haus of Jayne hemp shop, Dripping Springs

The facts

  • Lt. Gov. Patrick made banning hemp products that produce intoxication a priority in 2025.1
  • Gov. Abbott vetoed a sweeping ban on hemp products that Patrick championed.1
  • State health regulators adopted restrictions in March that prohibited most smokable hemp products.1
  • The March regulations increased business fees by up to 4,000%, according to business owners.1
  • Vikki Goodwin opposed Patrick's proposed ban and supported expanding medical cannabis and reducing marijuana possession penalties.1
  • Hemp shops have registered voters and displayed voter guides, mostly supporting Democratic candidates.1

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Hemp products pose health risks and the state cannot adequately regulate thousands of retailers.1
  • Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick I'm not going to legalize marijuana in Texas, and if people want to vote me out of office for that, so be it.1
  • Vikki Goodwin The restrictions go too far in limiting consumer choice and hemp business livelihoods.1
  • Estella Castro, hemp shop owner The restrictions are destroying livelihoods and the election is our last hope to stay open.1
  • Sarah Todd, Texas Cannabis Policy Center Goodwin is an ally to the hemp industry as a whole.1

Sources

Outlets: 1 not rated Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. Democrats ride THC ban backlash in race for lieutenant governor Houston Public Media Not rated, October 30, 2026

Also reported by KUT.

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

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