July 23, 2025
Flood relief stalled on day 2 of special session while the Lieutenant Governor torches hemp instead of helping homes.
Right now people in the Hill Country are dealing with two major ecological issues as it continues grappling with the aftermath of a catastrophic July 4 flash flood that’s claimed at least 135 lives while displacing hundreds — Gillespie County is forced to allow a battery storage facility near a water supply source. On day one of special session Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick maneuvered a bold chess move in Austin: fast-tracking Senate Bill 5, a sweeping prohibition on hemp‑derived THC products. Within hours of the special session’s first day, Senate rules were suspended to hold a hearing on SB 5, sending flood relief initiatives to the backburner. The legislative spectacle has fueled some inquiries of criticism: is Patrick using a public emergency to force through his ideological crusade?
Jeanette McKenzie testifies during Senate Committee hearing on SB 5 during first special session. She notes Hill Country flooding should be a bigger priority for consideration.
While Abbott vetoed SB 3 in June, calling instead for “smart regulation”—age restrictions, labeling, potency caps, and enforcement funding—Patrick accused him of plotting a “backdoor way to legalize recreational marijuana” and pledged to “not settle for less than a ban.” Unable to override Abbott’s veto, Patrick is now using the special session, called primarily to address flood response after the July 4th tragedy struck, to revive the ban as SB 5. This bill criminalizes possession of any hemp product containing more than trace cannabinoids, with felony and misdemeanor penalties for manufacturing, sales, or delivery.
Industry groups argue SB 5 would “kill small businesses,” destroy an $8 billion Texas hemp economy supporting 60,000 jobs, and push consumers to unregulated illicit markets. Hemp advocates also suggest Patrick is leveraging flood relief bills as bargaining chips, “holding disaster aid hostage,” some critics say. Patrick has resorted to blaming “cartels and terrorists” for hemp when challenged about neglecting the state’s emergency needs and priorities with hemp in regards.
It became well documented before Rep. Talarico went on the Joe Rogan podcast, that Dan Patrick was holding legislative priorities and people’s dignity hostage or under legislative duress. Rep. Alders, Ashby, and Hefner all admitted that their rural disaster relief support and other unrelated bills to THC were held hostage by Patrick during regular session to gain support on the THC bill. show support for governor on THC legislation in virtual roundtable. According to advocates present on the first day of special session such as Navy veteran Romana Harding, offices were very receptive. Discussions as her and others visited their offices Monday, gave an indication that they were all voicing support for doing diligent research, listening to the constituents of their districts, and awaiting to hear testimony in the house.
So far SB 5 appears to be a rehash of SB 3 which calls for an outright ban of THC. The governor’s proclamation calls for regulation and not for a full ban of a legal agricultural commodity. That creates many other questions that groups are calling into play, considering how this bill gets placed on priority over flood victims and the death of dozens of children in the Hill Country.
There’s quite a bit to take into consideration with how this is moving so fast given the importance of other things in the state right now. It’s not that getting proper regulation isn’t important, because that regulation is indeed important. But it’s also important for people in the Hill Country to understand that it is not the hemp industry’s fault if the Lt Gov plays this twisted game. A twisted game where Patrick claims that to try to restore their lives he needs to go out of the way to destroy other’s lives. A twisted message that slanders honorable and responsible business owner along with calling Texas farmers terrorists and cartel members.
This is all while he’s claiming this is justice for a few moms that have sandwiched their prohibition pleas with the Hill Country flooding disaster thoughts and prayers that they likely have zero to do with personally. The same mom(s) that claim this author commands a pot army from a social media platform they’re rarely paying attention to. An author that grew up in that Kerr County region spending much of their recreational time as a kid on that river. This author may not agree with their local politics, but no family nor child deserves to have their safety endangered by adults that will continue to put them at risk over unrelated feuds.
Dan Patrick, we’ve heard your message and noted that you said “if people want to vote (you) out of office for that, so be it.” Well Danny just remember this, don’t threaten Texans with a good time.
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