President Trump delays federal hemp ban. What it means for Texas

From news to sports, we help you stay connected to the world around you. www.usatoday.com By Brandi D. Addison , 24 minutes ago President Donald Trump has delayed a federal crackdown on hemp-derived THC products, but Texas' ban on most hemp-derived THC products remains in effect. Trump signed a federal spending bill Wednesday that pushes the effective date of new federal restrictions on hemp-derived THC products from Nov. 12 to Dec. 11, giving Congress more time to decide how the products should be regulated. For Texans, that doesn't mean delta-8, delta-10 or other prohibited THC products are suddenly legal again. Texas' restrictions took effect July 31 after the Texas Supreme Court allowed the state to enforce a rule classifying most hemp-derived THC products as Schedule I controlled substances. While the Trump administration has moved to delay the federal hemp crackdown, a federal judge in Texas recently declined to temporarily block the state's restrictions on most hemp-derived THC products. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown of Galveston declined Sept. 6, to lift Texas' ban on most hemp-derived THC products, denying an emergency request from two hemp retailers and a distributor, court records show. The businesses argued that the restrictions violate federal protections for hemp and place an unconstitutional burden on interstate commerce. Brown said the businesses had not sufficiently demonstrated irreparable harm. Their request for a preliminary injunction, which would allow for fuller briefing and an evidentiary hearing, remains pending. The restrictions stem from a long-running dispute over how Texas law defines hemp-derived THC. Texas lawmakers legalized hemp products containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC after the 2018 federal Farm Bill removed hemp from the federal definition of marijuana. That opened the door to products such as delta-8 THC, which can produce an intoxicating effect similar to delta-9 THC. Texas regulators later argued that the law did not make concentrated or synthetically produced forms of THC legal simply because they were derived from hemp. The Texas Supreme Court agreed in May 2026, ruling that delta-8 THC is a controlled substance when it is present in more than the trace amounts naturally produced by a hemp plant. The ruling allowed the Texas Department of State Health Services to reinstate its 2021 definitions of tetrahydrocannabinols and marihuana extract. Those changes took effect on July 31, putting most hemp-derived THC products containing more than trace amounts of THC back under Texas' controlled-substances laws. The state says qualifying hemp products containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight can still be sold, subject to Texas' other requirements. Texas bans the possession and sale of most synthetically derived hemp THC products, including: Delta-8 THC Delta-10 THC THCP THCA flower Other synthetic hemp-derived THC variants Not all THC products disappear. Products containing delta-9 THC remain legal as long as they contain no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight, the federal definition of hemp established under the 2018 Farm Bill. That means Texans can still legally purchase qualifying: Delta-9 gummies and other edibles Delta-9 beverages Delta-9 tinctures A separate statewide ban on smokable hemp products is still tied up in court, so qualifying delta-9 hemp flower remains available for now. Possessing banned THC products could be prosecuted as a state jail felony, which carries penalties ranging from 180 days to two years in jail and fines of up to $10,000. Businesses caught selling prohibited products could also face steep fines, lose their hemp licenses and face criminal charges. Delta-8 and THCa, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, are both products incredibly similar to the standard THC product that is illegal in Texas. Both have a slightly different chemical structure from the standard delta-9, which is found in marijuana. The only difference between delta-8 and delta-9 is that the location of a double chemical bond occurs on the eighth carbon atom versus the ninth. Texas allows medical use of low-THC cannabis through the state's Compassionate Use Program. It is not a traditional 'medical marijuana card' system, according to the state government website. Instead, qualified doctors enter prescriptions directly into a state registry. Under the program, patients may be prescribed low-THC cannabis made from Cannabis sativa L. The product must contain no more than 0.5% THC by weight. It cannot be smoked. It is limited to oral use, such as oils, tinctures, or capsules, as prescribed by a physician. Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the nation as the Weather Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network and contributes to Texas Connect coverage across the state. She can be reached at baddison@usatodayco.com . Follow her on Facebook here . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Trump delays federal hemp ban. What it means for Texas Sri Lanka's president promises to pass 22nd amendment after court ... The IAEA has raised concerns about access to Iran's nuclear sites amid efforts by Western powers to involve the UN. partner publisher · 2.0M followers Norah O'Donnell is back on the morning shift. The television journalist and longtime CBS host made her official return to "CBS Mornings" on Tuesday, Sept. 8. O'Donnell, 52, previously co-anchored the morning talk show from 2012 to 2019, before moving over to "CBS Evening News" for a six-year stint. "Thank you for having me back, and it's great to be here," O'Donnell said alongside co-anchors Gayle King and Nate Burleson. "I'm thrilled about what is an exciting show ahead and a big week ahead, too." King jokingly embraced her colleague's return by singing a line from Dolly Parton 's 1977 hit "Here You Come Again," telling O'Donnell, "Here you come again / lookin' better than a body has a right to." Welcome back, @NorahODonnell ! 🌞 pic.twitter.com/AxXfq0B64i — CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) September 8, 2026 "Norah and I have history, so we are ready to go," King, 71, said. "We got this, Norah. We got this, Nate." Norah O'Donnell back at 'CBS Mornings': TV anchor returns to morning talk show amid network shake-ups Burleson also shared his excitement for O'Donnell's return. "We're going to make this next chapter our best chapter here on 'CBS Mornings,' that's for sure," he told the partner publisher · 2.0M followers When the left wing of United Airlines Flight 175 cut through the south tower sky lobby , those who survived the impact didn't know if there was a way out. Then they heard Welles Crowther's voice. "I found the stairs," he told them. Crowther led them to safety, turned around and climbed back into the burning tower. The 24-year-old equities trader saved as many as 18 people on his three trips to the 78 th floor. He didn't survive. For many Americans, Crowther became a symbol of heroism on 9/11. He's received a number of posthumous awards, and this year will be given the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His alma mater, Boston College, annually dedicates a football game and road race in his honor. Today, Crowther's story is taught to children in more than 40 states . His heroism is among the defining ways students from kindergarten through high school learn about the terror attacks. This year's class of high school seniors were born seven years after 9/11. Most first graders were born in 2019, almost two decades later. For them, 9/11 is a historical event, not a visceral memory. As educators grapple with how to help the next generation partner publisher · 2.0M followers The heartbreaking trial of Lindsay Clancy , which sparked debates about women's health and the judicial system, has ended in a mistrial , starting what will likely be a running conversation about what happens next. Before that, it's worth taking a look at how we got here. Clancy, a mother of three, strangled her three children while dealing with postpartum depression. She pleaded not guilty as her defense claimed that a postpartum psychosis event meant she was not criminally responsible . The entire story is heartbreaking, but unfortunately, not everyone seems to be sad for the right reasons. Social media has been flooded with posts from supporters of Clancy's, who either claim she needed help , that this is somehow her now ex-husband's fault or merely the crowds of supporters cheering for her as she arrives at the courthouse. This type of rhetoric wasn't unforeseeable. America has been succumbing to a culture devaluing life for quite some time, and the fact that the lives lost in this tragedy often amount to a footnote in discussions is just more evidence of that fact. Another view: Clancy mistrial distracts from moms who actually deserve empathy | Opinion Lindsay Clancy's supporters diminish the partner publisher · 2.0M followers Singer Ray LaMontagne collapsed on stage in Nashville while performing during his ongoing 'Trouble' 20th Anniversary Tour . Video footage shared by social media users shows the Grammy winner, 53, strumming his guitar while singing his 2004 track 'Jolene' at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium Sept. 5 when he suddenly started grunting and grabbed the mic stand before collapsing and falling backward as crew members rushed to his side. Social media user Andrea Curtis, who posted a video from the concert on Instagram , said the concert stopped second to last song after LaMontagne collapsed. While LaMontagne's reps did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for an update on his health, People and Consequence reported , the singer's team, in a now-deleted Instagram story said he suffered from dehydration. 'Thank you to everyone who came out to tonight's show at the Ryman,' LaMontagne's team reportedly wrote. 'Ray is in good hands with the local EMS and is being treated for heat related dehydration, he is doing well now and is grateful for everyone's understanding.' The team added: 'He is looking forward to being onstage in Louisville tomorrow night.' More news: Pamela Anderson recalls spending 'everything I had in my bank' partner publisher · 2.0M followers Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III announced that he is stepping down from his role amid the White House's escalating attacks on how the Smithsonian presents history. Bunch, the Smithsonian's first Black secretary, has led the prestigious institution that includes 21 museums and the National Zoo for seven years. A statement from the Smithsonian said Bunch will depart before the end of the year. He told multiple news outlets he intends to retire. His departure comes as the Trump administration has ramped up attacks on the institution for presenting what it describes as a biased, "woke" view of American history that downplays the country's greatest achievements while overemphasizing themes like racism and inequality. In an interview with The New York Times , Bunch said it wasn't the Trump administration that led him to step down. But he did acknowledge the role has been "stressful." 'It was really just saying, now's the time ,' he told the outlet, adding: "I'm a fighter." 'I have to be honest, it has been stressful,' he continued. 'And at a certain point, I'd like to wake up in the morning and not look at my cellphone.' This is a breaking story. Check back for partner publisher · 2.0M followers A nationwide class-action lawsuit filed against Amazon on Sept. 8 alleges the company failed to make basic workplace accommodations for potentially thousands of currently and previously pregnant employees , and then fired them or threatened to fire them when they took breaks or time off for pregnancy-related reasons. Four plaintiffs are named in the complaint. A Better Balance , a nonprofit organization that advocates for workers' rights, shared the complaint exclusively with USA TODAY ahead of its filing, and gave USA TODAY access to the plaintiffs ahead of the filing. The lawsuit claims Amazon's discriminatory and retaliatory policies have been well-documented for years , including in several Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaints, and have been the subject of multiple state investigations, including in New York and New Jersey. "Ensuring the health and well-being of our employees is one of our greatest responsibilities, and we strive to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone, which includes supporting tens of thousands of employees with pregnancy accommodations each year," Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, wrote in a statement to USA TODAY. "In the past year, more than 99.9% of pregnancy related accommodations requests have been approved. The accounts shared by A partner publisher · 2.0M followers Multiple U.S. states may have a chance to see the northern lights , also known as the aurora borealis. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, and Wednesday, Sept. 9, seven states will have a low chance of seeing the lights, while Alaska will have a high chance, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center . Alaska has the highest likelihood of seeing the spectacular phenomenon of all the U.S. states. Like Alaska, most of Canada has a high likelihood of seeing the northern lights. Auroras look like bright "ribbons" of light of different colors moving across the sky, according to NASA . Solar winds carry charged particles from magnetic storms caused by solar activity, like explosions from the sun called solar flares or bubbles of gas being ejected from the sun called coronal mass ejections. When the charged particles enter the area of space surrounding Earth, known as the Earth's magnetosphere, they penetrate Earth's atmosphere and collide with oxygen and nitrogen particles, creating the phenomenon known as the northern lights. Here's what to know. When will the northern lights be visible? The phenomenon could be visible on Tuesday, Sept. 8 and Wednesday, Sept. 9, according to NOAA.