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A bipartisan coalition of 35 state and territory attorneys general are calling on Congress not to reverse the planned federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that is scheduled to take effect in November, saying that lawmakers\u2019 move to enact the\u00a0 forthcoming ban \u201cprotected consumers, provided much-needed regulatory clarity, and preserved legitimate industrial, agricultural, and nonintoxicating hemp markets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill that President Donald Trump signed during his first term in office. But late last year, the president signed new legislation containing provisions that will redefine hemp to make it so only products with 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will remain legal after November 12.<\/p>\n
There is currently an effort underway in Congress to delay the hemp product ban<\/a>, which industry supports say will give them more time to convince lawmakers to enact comprehensive regulations as an alternative to prohibition.<\/p>\n On Sunday, leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee released the text of a continuing resolution to extend funding for federal agencies through December 11, past the end of the current fiscal year on September 30. Included in the legislation are provisions that will also delay the planned prohibition on most hemp products until December 11\u2014although there is a carve-out that will allow the immediately recriminalization on November 12 of synthetic cannabinoids \u201cthat are not capable of being naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa L. plant.\u201d<\/p>\n The new letter\u2014led by Attorney General Tim Griffin (R), Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita (R), Connecticut Attorney General William Tong (D), and New Mexico Attorney General Ra\u00fal Torrez (D)\u2014urges Congress to reject \u201cany effort to delay, repeal, suspend, or weaken\u201d the forthcoming ban and ensure it \u201ctakes effect as enacted and remains in place thereafter.\u201d<\/p>\n Today I led a bipartisan letter with 34 other Attorneys General urging Congress to preserve hemp reforms enacted in 2025 and reject efforts to reopen loopholes that allowed intoxicating hemp products to enter the marketplace. <\/p>\n The bottom line is simple: Republicans and Democrats\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/E3UKdP96tq<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Attorney General Tim Griffin (@AGTimGriffin) August 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n The AGs note that following Congress\u2019s action in 2025, a number of states have reformed their own hemp laws to match the narrower federal definition of legal products.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the loophole is reopened or the new definition is weakened or repealed, States will face renewed litigation, inconsistent enforcement, regulatory uncertainty, increased youth access to intoxicating products, and disruption of lawful businesses that have already adjusted their operations to comply with the new federal framework,\u201d the letter says. \u201cEqually as concerning, change at this stage would allow the return of unregulated intoxicating cannabis products that Congress appropriately chose to address.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMany, if not most, States have already imposed greater limits than are supported by the new federal definition like (1) accounting for all THC isomers in their hemp definitions and excluding cannabis that contains a combined total amount of THC that is greater than 0.3% and (2) strict limitations on hemp products containing intoxicating cannabinoids. Other states, like Delaware, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, and North Carolina have already seen legislative movement in the last seven months seeking to better align their States\u2019 definition of \u2018hemp\u2019 with the new federal definition in various ways or otherwise assert greater control over the hemp market. Numerous States and federal agencies have also aligned their enforcement posture with the new federal hemp definition over the last seven months.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBroadly, these actions point to a state-level response to requests by citizens, businesses, and lawmakers to implement common-sense regulations on the largely uncontrolled hemp product market,\u201d the attorneys general wrote in the letter, which is addressed to Republican House and Senate leaders. \u201cThe new federal definition ensures both uniformity and safety throughout the nation. If the redefinition is not maintained, it will almost guarantee that these state efforts at regulation will be thrown into chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n Our office is co-leading a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general directing lawmakers in Congress to reject efforts to delay implementation of the new federal definition of hemp which closes the loophole that has fueled the nationwide sale of intoxicating THC products in\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/gmHIuiPnNF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 AG Todd Rokita (@AGToddRokita) August 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n They argued that cracking down on intoxicating hemp products \u201cwill not inhibit the cultivation of hemp for use in the industrial or agricultural sectors (among others), since hemp plants naturally contain low levels of intoxicating cannabinoids.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe redefinition restores the 2018 Farm Bill\u2019s original goal of allowing the cultivation of hemp crops for uses within American industry\u2013separate from the cultivation or processing of marijuana,\u201d the\u00a0letter<\/a> says. \u201cWe now ask that you continue your work to ensure that the American people and American businesses have access to safe, nonintoxicating hemp products.\u201d<\/p>\n Griffin, the Arkansas attorney general, said in a press release that \u201cCongress was absolutely right when it acted last year and adopted a clearer, more responsible framework for hemp regulation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStates, businesses, consumers, and regulators have spent months adapting to the impending new standard, and many states have aligned their laws accordingly,\u201d he said. \u201cReopening this loophole would create confusion, invite litigation, and undermine the progress we\u2019ve made to protect consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe bottom line is simple: Republicans and Democrats across the country agree that intoxicating hemp products shouldn\u2019t be accessible to our kids. We urge federal lawmakers to maintain the current definition of hemp and support a consistent national approach that protects public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n Rokita, the Indiana attorney general, argued in a press release that \u201cCongress should not bow to the special interests that exploited a loophole in federal law to profit from selling unregulated intoxicating THC products that have harmed communities, jeopardized public safety, and put young people at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey should stand with parents, law enforcement, and legitimate hemp farmers\u2014not the special interests profiting from selling marijuana-like products in gas stations and convenience stores,\u201d he said. \u201cReject the delay, keep your promise and let the law take effect.\u201d<\/p>\n Connecticut AG Tong said that \u201cCongress made the right decision when it closed a dangerous loophole, and we should keep it closed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese reforms protect consumers, support businesses that follow the law, and keep intoxicating hemp-derived products out of our communities. We cannot afford to go backwards,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) announced on Monday that he will be filing an amendment to strip provisions out of the spending bill<\/a> that aim to delay the scheduled hemp product ban.<\/p>\n The legislative vehicle that the Senate is using to fund the government and that includes the hemp ban delay provision, H.R. 6500, cleared a procedural vote on Monday and is expected to receive a vote on final passage this week after consideration of any amendments.<\/p>\n The Beverage Alcohol Merchants Coalition (BAMCO), which represents major alcohol retailers, is supporting the move to delay the hemp product ban\u2014saying it provides industry supporters with more time to convince Congress to \u201cestablish a responsible federal framework for low-dose hemp-derived THC beverages.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n BAMCO\u2019s members include Total Wine & More, BevMo! by Gopuff, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Spec\u2019s Wine and Spirits & Finer Foods, as well as a group of hemp product wholesalers. The group supports incorporating hemp THC drinks into the existing three-tier system for alcoholic beverages<\/a>, along with new requirements for testing, labeling, marketing and taxation in tandem with flexibility for state regulations.<\/p>\n Other alcohol industry groups such as\u00a0Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America have also backed regulating hemp products<\/a>\u00a0instead of prohibiting them.<\/p>\n Last month, the House of Representatives passed its own version of a continuing resolution to keep federal agencies funded into December, but it did not have any provisions to alter the planned hemp product ban. As such, if the Senate passes its new provision\u00a0it would then still need approval by the other chamber before being sent to the president.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a number of lawmakers from both chambers and both parties have filed or are circulating a growing number of bills\u00a0to\u00a0prevent the scheduled federal recriminalization of hemp THC drinks and other products<\/a>\u00a0later this year. Until now, none of those proposals have gained traction with congressional leaders.<\/p>\n For example, Rep. James Comer (R-KY), who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is circulating legislation that would delay a planned federal ban on hemp THC products and institute some regulations\u2014including packaging requirements, testing rules and age limits.<\/p>\n Separately, Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), filed a lengthier proposal to\u00a0prevent the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products and put in place a number of regulations<\/a>\u00a0for manufacturing, labeling, sales and taxation of hemp-derived products, including an age limit of 21.<\/p>\n A press release from the congressman\u2019s office claimed that the White House supports the legislation, which is cosponsored by Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), but\u00a0the administration has not specifically endorsed it despite generally calling for hemp regulations<\/a>\u00a0and backing a prior similar amendment filed by Barr.<\/p>\n Trump and White House officials have in recent weeks repeatedly pressed Congress to delay, alter or reverse the ban.<\/p>\n In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) last month, for example, White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought said\u00a0the Trump administration wants lawmakers to \u201censure the fair treatment of hemp products\u201d<\/a>\u2014specifically citing Barr\u2019s earlier amendment to keep many hemp products legal while adding regulations and taxes.<\/p>\n The administration \u201cwelcomes the opportunity to work with the Congress to, at a minimum,\u00a0update the statutory definition of final hemp-derived cannabinoid products<\/a>\u00a0to allow Americans to benefit from access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products,\u201d OMB separately said last month, \u201cwhile preserving the Congress\u2019s intent to restrict the sale of products that pose serious health risks.\u201d<\/p>\n Also in April, the\u00a0president himself urged congressional lawmakers to again redefine hemp<\/a>\u00a0to avoid recriminalization of full-spectrum CBD products.<\/p>\n \u201cI am calling on Congress to update the Law to ensure that Americans can continue to access the full-spectrum CBD products they have come to rely on, and that help them, while preserving Congress\u2019s intent to restrict the sale of products that pose Health risks,\u201d Trump said in a Truth Social post.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must get this done RIGHT and FAST, especially for those who saw that CBD helps them,\u201d he said. \u201cPlus, I am told it will also help our GREAT FARMERS, who we love, and will always be there for.\u201d<\/p>\n Industry advocates say that the law as enacted last year not only threatens to prohibit intoxicating and synthetic cannabinoid products but also stands to remove popular full-spectrum CBD products that many Americans use therapeutically from the market.<\/p>\n \u201cONE in FIVE adults used it in the past year, and many say it improved their chronic pain enormously,\u201d the president said in his social media post, adding that hemp-derived CBD \u201chas made a HUGE difference for so many people.\u201d<\/p>\n He also referenced a new initiative the administration launched in April to\u00a0cover up to $500 worth of hemp-derived products each year for eligible Medicare patients<\/a>. The program being implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) focuses largely on CBD but also allows products to have up to 3 milligrams of total THC per serving. A federal judge\u00a0granted the government\u2019s motion to dismiss marijuana legalization opponents\u2019 lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0challenging the initiative,\u00a0but that is being appealed<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIn December, I signed a very important Executive Order calling for Research and Innovation for Hemp-derived CBD,\u201d Trump said. \u201cOur wonderful Dr. Mehmet Oz moved fast to follow the directive in the Executive Order, and launched a model for some Seniors earlier this month. But more must be done!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease get it done, and SOON,\u201d the president said in reference to a congressional fix for the broad recriminalization set to take effect in November. \u201cThank you for your attention to this matter!\u201d<\/p>\n The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA),\u00a0an alcohol industry trade association issued praise for Barr\u2019s bipartisan hemp regulation bill<\/a>, but said the measure\u2019s tax provisions require \u201ccontinued discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n Hemp policy observers expect to see a Senate companion bill to Barr\u2019s proposal filed soon, likely from Sens. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).<\/p>\n Sheehy recently cited\u00a0hemp legislation as an area where Republicans and Democrats can work together<\/a>\u00a0in an otherwise \u201chyperpartisan time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 Meanwhile, a new poll from NuggMD found that most cannabis consumers say that state-level hemp product bans that lawmakers are enacting in line with the planned federal recriminalization move are causing them to\u00a0shift their purchases toward licensed marijuana businesses<\/a>.<\/p>\n The National Restaurant Association recently sent a letter urging congressional leaders to\u00a0delay the federal recriminalization of hemp THC beverages<\/a>\u00a0and replace it with a regulatory framework that \u201censures consumer safety while meeting growing market demand\u201d for the products as an alternative to alcohol.<\/p>\n Major retailer\u00a0Target, meanwhile, recently moved to expand its sales of hemp THC drinks<\/a>\u00a0into more states.<\/p>\n The post State Attorneys General Push Congress Not To Reverse Course On Banning Hemp THC Products<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
A bipartisan coalition of 35 state and territory attorneys general are calling on Congress not to reverse the planned federal recriminalization of hemp THC products that is scheduled to take effect in November, saying that lawmakers\u2019 move to enact the\u00a0 forthcoming ban \u201cprotected consumers, provided much-needed regulatory clarity, and preservedContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":459,"featured_media":86561,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86560"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/459"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86560"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86562,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86560\/revisions\/86562"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n\n
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\nRead More: State Attorneys General Push Congress Not To Reverse Course On Banning Hemp THC Products<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"