Letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott re: SB 3

June 3, 2025

The Honorable Greg Abbott
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428

Dear Governor Abbott:

The Hemp Beverage Alliance is the trade association of the hemp beverage industry with more than 300 members in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

We urge you to veto SB 3, as it will destroy the livelihoods of thousands of Texans and deny responsible adults the opportunity to enjoy this new beverage category.

The Hemp Beverage Alliance supports regulatory principles that set sensible limits for THC content, keep products away from children, provide robust product testing, and create tax revenues for the public benefit. These principles can be found on our website: https://www.hempbeveragealliance.org/principles-overview.

In addition to the economic impact, the passage of SB 3 runs counter to the desires of most adults in the state. According to a March 2025 public opinion poll, an overwhelming 68% of Texas voters want consumable THC to remain legal but strictly regulated, with measures such as age restrictions and warning labels.

Consumer tastes are changing, and increasingly adult consumers are turning to hemp beverages - seltzers, sodas, mocktails, coffees, teas, and other non-alcoholic drinks that contain a small infusion of hemp-derived cannabinoids - instead of alcohol. Since hemp was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill,  Minnesota, Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee and other states have developed regulatory frameworks to create a safe and thriving industry. The Hemp Beverage Alliance expects other states to develop similar frameworks in 2025.

The Hemp Beverage Alliance has sixteen member organizations in Texas. These brands, supply chain partners, service providers and advocates are all committed to creating a safe, transparent and thriving hemp beverage industry. 

Please veto SB 3 and together we can develop a regulatory framework that works for Texas.

Thank you for your consideration.