Texas State Senator José Menéndez said that abruptly making Delta-8 910 products illegal would push them underground, increase illegal market activity, and reduce state revenue for public services. Menéndez was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.

“The state has allowed, inadvertently, not on purpose, but it has allowed this flood of Delta-8, 9, and 10 product all over the state, in every corner of the state," said Menéndez in a recent edition of the Texas Talks Podcast.

“If you were to say all of a sudden, overnight, it’s now illegal, I don’t think—just like prohibition didn’t make alcohol go away, it just went underground into speakeasies, back rooms, and moonshine places—I think it would do the same thing," said Menéndez. “All you’re doing is giving people who traffic in illegal markets more product, more customers, and more profits. It means less for the state in terms of taxpayers’ commitment to paying for roads, schools, and other things our taxes go to.”

Menéndez, serving District 26, has passed over 200 bills, including David's Law on cyberbullying and secured funding for education, healthcare, and community projects like $17 million for Alamo Colleges. He began his public service on the San Antonio City Council and later served as a State Representative.

Texas Talks podcast is hosted by Brad Swail. The weekly show is focused on public policy in the state of Texas, with insights from the people and organizations that influence it.

The podcast is available on Simple Cast and YouTube.