"Advocates for hemp on Wednesday decried a provision of the Republican government funding law signed by President Donald Trump that tightens restrictions on the versatile plant - a move critics say will devastate a $30 billion industry. The new restrictions set a stricter limit on the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the psychoactive chemical in cannabis - in order to close a loophole that allowed for the sale of unregulated food and beverages containing intoxicating hemp-derived compounds."
"Hemp - which is used in a wide range of products from clothing to construction materials to fuel, food, and biodegradable plastics - was legalized under the 2018 farm bill signed by President Donald Trump during his first term. But lawmakers including Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) - who backed the 2018 legislation - argued that cannabis companies are exploiting a loophole in the farm bill to legally manufacture products with enough THC to get consumers high."
A provision in the Republican government funding law tightens THC limits for hemp, aiming to close a loophole that permitted intoxicating hemp-derived food and beverages. Industry advocates warned the change will devastate a $30 billion hemp sector and force farms and businesses to close. Twenty-two Democratic senators and most Republicans voted against Sen. Rand Paul’s amendment to remove the restrictions, with Sen. Ted Cruz joining Paul. Industry counsel called the move a political pawn. Hemp was legalized in the 2018 farm bill and serves diverse markets, while some lawmakers say companies exploited that bill to produce high-THC products.
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