"Fresh out of the longest government shutdown in US history, and with millions of workers already waist-deep in the coming recession, lawmakers rolled up their sleeves and got to work - on hemp. Yep, you read that right. Hidden in the recently passed Senate funding bill is a surprise provision that's set to ban almost all hemp products from the consumer market."
"Legally, hemp is defined as cannabis with 0.3 percent or less THC content by dry weight. Anything higher is classified as marijuana, which is regulated by individual US states. Hemp, on the other hand, has been something of a free-for-all, after the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act legalized THC products derived from the low-potency substance. According to a Senate Appropriations Committee summary, the new provision "prevents the unregulated sale of intoxicating hemp-based or hemp-derived products, including Delta-8, from being sold online, in gas stations, and corner stores, while preserving non-intoxicating CBD and industrial hemp products.""
"After being pushed through by the senate, house Republicans passed the funding bill - including the hemp provision - with the help of six Democrats, which was signed by Donald Trump just hours later. According to industry publication Marijuana Moment, it'll be a full year before the proviso takes effect. Critics of the measure argue it will effectively destroy the $28 billion US hemp industry, affecting some 300,000 workers in states like Texas, Kentucky, and Utah."
A newly passed federal funding bill contains a provision that would ban the unregulated sale of intoxicating hemp-based and hemp-derived products, including Delta-8, while preserving non-intoxicating CBD and industrial hemp products. Hemp is legally defined as cannabis with 0.3 percent or less THC by dry weight; higher THC is classified as marijuana and regulated by states. The measure passed Congress with bipartisan support and was signed into law, with the proviso taking effect in one year. Industry critics warn the provision could devastate a $28 billion US hemp sector and impact roughly 300,000 workers across multiple states.
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