Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent executive order regulating hemp-derived THC products, ostensibly to protect children by setting serving sizes, health warnings, and a minimum purchase age of 21, is criticized as a deceptive “Trojan horse.” Instead of closing loopholes, the order entrenches Texas as a permissive recreational market by legitimizing intoxicating cannabinoids without addressing the core issue: the chemical manipulation of hemp to produce potent THC analogs. This regulatory approach ignores evidence from other states showing that increased access leads to higher use among youth, more hospitalizations, and impaired driving, while age restrictions and warnings do little to prevent underage consumption or accidental poisonings.

The article argues that true protection requires lawmakers to redefine “hemp” to exclude all intoxicating cannabinoids, closing legal and chemical loopholes exploited by manufacturers and distributors marketing these products as wellness items or harmless snacks. Until such legislative changes occur, the current order merely normalizes use, misleads consumers about safety, and facilitates access to harmful substances, especially endangering children and young people. The author calls for stronger, more effective regulation rather than token safeguards that serve industry profits at the expense of public health.