Patrick's shameless crusade against THC was met with criticism suggesting that his position had less to do with temperance and more to do with a conflict of interest. Critics of Patrick speculated about his ties to the alcohol lobby, which prominently funds measures taken to curb legalization of THC to undermine its competition in the market. The alcohol industry is aided in that mission by with the pharmaceutical lobby, which also funds candidates and campaigns that fight against wider legalization of THC. Although each does so under the guise of the interest of public health and welfare, alcohol and pharmaceutical related deaths outpace fatalities associated with marijuana use by an exponential degree.

The motives driving Lt. Governor Patrick's support of SB 3 shares that same hypocrisy. In 2021, the lieutenant governor proudly supported Texas House Bill 1024, which legalized the pick up and delivery of alcoholic beverages from restaurants for off-premises consumption. Although Patrick proclaimed that the measure was being taken to help small businesses, his support for HB 1024 looked to be rooted in the same interest influencing his support for a ban on THC. Public records from the Texas Ethics Commission show Patrick received a $250,000 contribution in 2024 from the CEO of Silver Eagle Distributors, one of the largest Anheuser-Busch beer distributors in the state. This was followed by a $25,000 donation from the Beer Alliance of Texas PAC. Those campaign contributions demonstrate that private and not public interest is what shapes Patrick's policymaking on marijuana reform.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2025-06-24/texas-total-thc-ban-goes-flames