Medical marijuana providers say they must operate under strict rules while hemp products like delta-8 can proliferate.

There is no process in Texas for a voter-driven statewide referendum. So, supporters are going city by city to build statewide momentum.

The new delta-8 hemp products, which are widely available, can produce a high similar to marijuana’s. State Sen. Charles Perry said he and his peers never intended for such products to reach the market.

In 2019, Texas legalized hemp, but not marijuana. The new law led to confusion about which marijuana products are legal in Texas. Meanwhile, support for legalizing the drug remains high in polling, and other cannabis-derived products like delta-8 have emerged.