The U.S. hemp industry, valued at $28.3 billion, faces a dire future as Congress redefines hemp to outlaw hemp-derived THC, endangering nearly all hemp businesses in the country. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives approved a spending package late Wednesday, including language that criminalizes the production and sale of intoxicating hemp-derived THC products.
State attorneys general have been pushing for a federal ban on these products, seeking to restrict the sale of intoxicating hemp-derived THC items. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, known as the 2018 Farm Bill, initially legalized industrial hemp to support American farmers and establish a regulated market. However, the recent legislative actions are set to reverse this legalization.
Congress’s decision to crack down on hemp products follows years of pressure from states and the marijuana industry. The Senate passed a funding package on Monday to reopen the government, which includes provisions to re-criminalize many of the intoxicating hemp-derived products legalized by the 2018 Farm Bill. Senator Rand Paul and Senator Ted Cruz were the only Republicans who voted in favor of keeping the provision out.
