Ricky Williams Takes the Lead in Texas Battle Over Hemp THC Ban

22 June 2025

Ricky Williams. (Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage)

Ricky Williams has long been celebrated for his explosive runs on the football field. Now, the former Miami Dolphins star is fast making headlines off the gridiron by stepping into a legal spotlight. In June 2025, Williams joined a federal lawsuit against a controversial Texas bill that would ban hemp-derived THC products, including Delta-8. In doing so, he placed himself at the center of a fierce debate over federal law, consumer rights, and the future of cannabis in the Lone Star State.

Texas Senate Bill 3, backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and passed during the 2025 legislative session, seeks to outlaw all THC products made from hemp, except those covered by the state’s restrictive medical marijuana program. The new law would criminalize items containing even trace amounts of THC, relegating them to the same legal status as marijuana. Supporters argue it’s a crucial step toward protecting public health, especially children. But critics and industry insiders warn that the move will disrupt a booming multibillion-dollar hemp market and push Texans toward harmful opioids or into the black market.

Williams brings more than celebrity attention, hey bring authority and lived experience. A lifelong cannabis advocate, he credits hemp-derived products with helping him manage physical injury, emotional stress, and chronic pain as a professional athlete. In statements and public appearances, Williams emphasized that the bill would dramatically limit Texans’ access to natural recovery options, penalize athletes seeking alternative medicine, and spark an exodus of small hemp businesses from the Texas economy.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, argues that Texas is intentionally undermining federal law, which legalized hemp products containing up to 0.3% THC with the 2018 Farm Bill. By criminalizing these products, Texas would flagrantly conflict with congressional intent. Supporters of the lawsuit include veterans, farmers, entrepreneurs, and consumer rights groups, each backing the suit’s claim that Senate Bill 3 is both unconstitutional and economically destructive .

The impact on Texas’s market and culture could be profound. In 2024, legal hemp generated an estimated $8 billion in annual revenue within the state, supporting hundreds of small businesses, from processors and hemp farmers to edibles producers. Supporters of the law say unregulated hemp-THC products often skirt safeguards, appear in child-friendly packaging, and escape oversight. They claim a ban is necessary until federal authorities establish tougher testing, labeling, and distribution rules. Opponents counter that sweeping prohibition eliminates consumer choice and punishes responsible users and businesses.

By involving himself in this debate, Williams has provided a high-profile face to the opposition. He urged Texas Governor Greg Abbott to veto the bill before its scheduled effect date of June 22. In a heartfelt plea, he framed the issue as one of medical freedom, economic justice for Texas farmers, and respect for the will of voters who supported hemp legalization.

Williams’s presence elevates the fight, putting political and cultural pressure on lawmakers. His involvement ensures the conversation extends beyond legislative floors into living rooms, podcasts, and courtroom dockets. National media outlets have already begun drawing attention to this clash between federal precedent and localized policy.

At the heart of the case lies a broader national dilemma: who determines the future of hemp-derived products, the federal government or individual states? Beyond Texas, multiple states are considering similar bans or regulations, and federal courts are growing increasingly divided. A favorable ruling here could set a legal standard that empowers states to regulate or prohibit hemp THC, reshaping the national market. Conversely, if the lawsuit succeeds, it could shore up federal protection for hemp products and limit states’ discretion to override these laws .

This legal contest also reveals cultural tensions. Williams, a member of Project Champion, a coalition of former pro athletes advocating cannabis reform warns that curtailing access drives people back to unsafe pharmaceuticals and violates Texans’ rights to self-medicate naturally. He contends that catching children by criminalizing adults is not the answer. Instead, he calls for intelligent regulation, testing standards, and honest education.

As courts and political actors review Senate Bill 3 ahead of its implementation, multiple groups are mobilizing. Veteran advocates, small-business coalitions, and public health organizations have submitted briefs urging restraint and urging the court to align state law with federal precedent. Public comment periods, lobbying efforts, and social media campaigns have exploded, making Texas a flashpoint in the national cannabis conversation.

In short, Ricky Williams has moved from the field to the courtroom, transforming his personal advocacy into a powerful challenge to governmental overreach. He has reframed the debate, not as a fringe issue, but as a matter of individual rights, public health, economic equity, and legal clarity.

What happens next will matter far beyond Texas. A courtroom decision could redefine the boundaries between federal and state regulatory power, set precedents for hemp commerce, and shape how the nation approaches everything from pain management to agriculture. Ricky Williams has sounded the alarm, and the country is now watching.