Cannabis News
Congressional Lawmakers Want Exemption From Federal Hemp THC Ban For States With Regulations
An effort is underway to bring together federal lawmakers representing Minnesota to reduce the Trump administration’s recently enacted ban on hemp-derived THC to states seeking to regulate cannabinoid products, a congressional Democrat told Marijuana Moment.
But a GOP congressman who helped secure the ban signed into law by President Donald Trump last week says he is unconcerned by attempts to roll back the existing law, dismissing arguments about the effects of policy changes as “desperate criminals in an industry that loses billions of dollars by selling intoxicants to children.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, told Marihuana Moment on Tuesday that he and other lawmakers are working to see if they can get “exemptions” from the ban “for states that have already expanded their hemp policies.”
“A large part of our economy is already being absorbed by the hemp industry, and it will be a tragedy for the industries that already exist in states like Minnesota,” he said.
The congressman said the office here has been working to “gauge interest” among colleagues in Minnesota about the possibility of signing a letter to the Trump administration, outlining their concerns about the change in hemp policy and that states should have the power to enact their own cannabis laws without federal interference.
That’s what Omar said many Democrats voted against a motion to kill the appropriations legislation amendment It was sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) in an effort to counter the hemp language, which was championed by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). There are other Republicans “on this side of the chamber, so we’ll see if we can get movement in that regard,” he said.
Asked if the Cannabis Caucus is coordinating the effort, Omar said he’s mainly talking to members of the Minnesota congressional delegation, “because if we can move them, we can try to build a broader coalition.”
“Affected states need to speak up before advocates get involved,” he said.
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), who co-sponsored the ban with McConnell, is making sure the prohibitionist policy remains intact.
“Federal law supersedes state laws on scheduled substances,” he told Marijuana Moment. “Otherwise we will curb an unregulated industry that sells toxins to children.”
A federal hemp ban – which would set a THC limit for cannabinoid products so low that many stakeholders say it would effectively upend the industry.it’s been especially hot in Minnesotawhere lawmakers legalized hemp-derived THC beverages and established a regulatory framework for these products before the state legalized adult marijuana.
Many were caught by surprise when Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Democrat, joined 38 of his state and territory peers in a letter to congressional leaders earlier this month in expressing support for the hemp provisions in the spending bill signed by Trump.
Ellison later, he defended his decision to sign that lettersaying that while he supports the state’s marijuana laws — as well as “Minnesota’s edible THC industry, which follows state law” — the so-called “loophole” in the federal hemp statute puts his state at risk by allowing potentially non-compliant, out-of-state cannabinoid products to enter the Minnesota market.
However, there is widespread uproar about criminalization again, and parents of cannabis patients, veterinarians and Agents like Joe Roganfor example
In response to the hemp ban, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) recently began circulating a bill. repealing the provisions that are against the credit legislation. But some stakeholders worry that approach could backfire, and hope to introduce bipartisan bills in the near future that would provide a strong regulatory framework for intoxicating hemp products as a viable alternative to a blanket ban.
Meanwhile, GOP political operative Roger Stone said this week that Donald Trump was the president effectively “forced” Republican lawmakers to sign the spending bill with language to ban hemp THC.
However, a White House spokesman said before signing the bill Trump was particularly supportive of the ban’s language.
Kentucky’s Democratic governor said as much last week the hemp industry is an “important” part of the economy that deserves to be regulated at the state level—instead of being banned federally, as Congress has done—.
Additionally, a leading veterans organization is alerting Congressional leaders to the recently passed blanket ban on consumable hemp products. could inadvertently “close the door” on critical inquiry.
Many hemp participants argue that a ban would effectively wipe out the industry, even if enforced Non-toxic CBD products that people use for medical reasons— There is a hidden hope that they can reach an agreement with the legislators before the ban is implemented next year.
Lawmakers like Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) also say the window could allow them to advance legislation to create an alternative regulatory model for consumer hemp products.
There were Attempts by GOP lawmakers in both chambers to kill the hemp ban provision. But the amendments proposed by Reps. Paul and Thomas Massie (R-KY) were not included in the final package.
Massie tried to revive momentum in the House with an amendment mirroring Paul’s, but its chances of passage were dubious at best, as there was general agreement within the Republican caucus that the spending bill could return to the Senate without further changes.
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Since 2018, cannabis products have been considered legal hemp if they contain less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight.
The new legislation specifies that, within a year of taking effect, the weight will be applied to total THC—including delta-8 and other isomers. Also, “as tetrahydrocannabinol (or any other marketed cannabinoid) with similar effects in humans or animals (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services).”
The new definition of legal hemp will also prohibit “any hemp-derived cannabinoid intermediate product marketed or sold as an end product or directly to an end consumer for personal or household use” as well as products containing cannabinoids that are synthesized or manufactured outside of the cannabis plant or that are unable to produce it naturally.
Legal hemp products will be limited to a total of 0.4 milligrams of total THC or any other cannabinoid with similar effects per container.
Within 90 days of the bill’s passage, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies must “publish a list of all cannabinoids known to the FDA to be naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa L. plant, as reflected in the peer-reviewed literature,” which include “all tetrahydrocannabinol classes known” in natural plants and “known cannabinoids.” cannabinoids that have or are marketed as having effects similar to cannabinoids of the tetrahydrocannabinol class.
The language differs slightly from provisions in legislation advanced out of the House and Senate Appropriations panels, which would have banned products with “quantifiable” amounts of THC, to be determined by the HHS secretary and the agriculture secretary.
Meanwhile, advocates are sharply criticizing congressional leaders for advancing a spending bill that also omits bipartisan provisions ahead of Veterans Day. Allowing the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prescribe medical cannabis to doctors to patients in states where it is legal—although the policy was approved by the full Senate and House earlier this year.
LCB Contributed reporting from Washington DC
Brendan Cleak’s photo.
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After fifteen years of successful cooperation, managing director Moritz Böcking and the shareholders of Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH have mutually agreed to part ways. As of May 1, 2026, Moritz Böcking will hand over the position of managing director to Jan Astrup, who served as the company’s CEO in 2021/2022. Jan Astrup and Damian Ikemann will form the Board of Directors of the Klasmann-Deilmann Group from now on.
© Klasmann-Deilmann Benelux
Klasmann-Deilmann thanks Moritz Böcking for his cooperation and the progress achieved in the transformation of the Klasmann-Deilmann Group. Moritz Böcking expanded Klasmann-Deilmann beyond the growing media business into new areas of commercial horticulture and promoted innovation and digitalization within the company. In addition, its achievements include the expansion of resources derived from renewable raw materials, as well as the acquisition of a subsidiary in Australia and production facilities in France and Canada, which operate in cooperation with external partners. He also significantly advanced Klasmann-Deilmann’s positioning as a global pioneer of sustainable development in the growing media industry, thereby making a decisive contribution to the company’s economic growth.
With Jan Astrup, Klasmann-Deilmann is getting an internationally experienced manager who has proven himself in the company and has extensive experience in raw materials, production, process optimization and technology. With the new CEO, raw materials and technology-driven areas for the substrate industry are now increasingly important at senior management level. Jan Astrup will strengthen the core commercial horticulture business and help develop the company for the future.
For more information:
Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH
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Cannabis News
Congressional Amendments To Delay Or Speed Up Federal Hemp THC Product Ban Won’t Get Votes
Congressional amendments to both delaying the scheduled federal recriminalization of hemp THC products for another year or to speed up implementation will not be considered on the House floor this week.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY) introduced the delay proposal as an amendment to the Farm Bill, while Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) introduced an expedited approach. Neither will move forward, however, with Comer withdrawing his measure and the House Rules Committee failing to vote on Miller’s.
Hemp derivatives containing less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by weight of the drug were made federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill signed by President Donald Trump in his first term. But late last year, Trump signed new legislation containing provisions that will redefine hemp so that only products with a total of 0.4 milligrams of THC per container will be legal starting Nov. 12.
Comer’s amendment, sponsored by Reps. Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA), would have delayed the ban until November 2027.
According to Miller’s proposal, however, the ban will begin the day the new Farm Bill takes effect. However, it is unclear based on progress in Congress whether the large-scale farming legislation will actually become law, and the legislation could not pass until after the current recriminalization date.
Comer told the panel at Monday’s meeting that his amendment would “protect American farmers” and “help the hemp industry and the thousands of jobs that use and rely on these products.”
“It is clear that Congress needs more time to pass legislation that protects jobs, eliminates bad actors, standardizes labeling and requires third-party testing,” he said. “My amendment would give Congress another year, until November 2027, to develop this solution.”
It is not clear why he decided to remove it from the annex to the proposal Farm BillAlso known as the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, or HR 7567.
Griffith, a member of the Rules Committee who sponsored Comer’s amendment, noted that there are “a lot of hemp products from overseas that don’t have third-party testing” on the market, “frankly all kinds of junk.”
He said the real solution is for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the products, citing a separate bill he has introduced on the issue, but argued that “we have to have time to adjust,” which he said would provide the delay amendment.
Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) also introduced an amendment to the bill that, according to the sponsor’s summary, “changes the definition of hemp to protect the legal hemp market, creating a regulatory framework that protects children, bans synthetics, and ensures that products on the market are of American origin.”
The congressman later withdrew the proposal for undisclosed reasons.
However, he recently received a letter White House officials commented on pending legislation to create a regulatory framework for hemp.
Last week, Vince Haley, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, and James Braid, assistant to the president for legislative affairs, sent hemp policy suggestions to Barr, who is helping lead efforts to establish regulations for the plant as an alternative to prohibition.
“We appreciate your work to advance policy,” the executive order Trump signed in December, which included provisions to protect Americans’ access to CBD products, the staff wrote in a letter to Congress.
“We are submitting draft legislation and comments to your account to address the final statutory definition of hemp-derived cannabinoid products to ensure that Americans have access to adequate full-spectrum CBD products while maintaining Congress’ intent to limit the sale of products that pose serious health risks,” White House officials said, according to a social media screencast. “We are open to discussion and further technical assistance.”
The annex to the administration’s proposed legislative text has not been released publicly, and the White House and Barr’s office did not immediately respond to Marihuana Moment’s request for more details.
It’s not clear from the text of the letter whether the White House was proactively sending legislative proposals to the lawmaker or whether they were responding to something sent by his office, though two cannabis industry sources suggested to Marihuana Moment that Barr was sending the language to the administration, and then providing technical feedback.
Trump this week It inspired lawmakers in Congress to take action to change the currently planned hemp banand suggested that this threatens to federally recriminalize full-spectrum CBD products.
“I’m calling on Congress to update the Act so Americans can continue to have access to the full-spectrum CBD products they trust and support, while maintaining Congress’ intent to restrict the sale of products that pose health risks,” the president said in a Truth Social message Thursday, the same day his administration announced it is moving forward to re-regulate marijuana.
“We need to do this RIGHT and FAST, especially for those who have found CBD to help them,” he said. “Also, I’m told it will help our BIG FARMERS that we love and will always be around.”
Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) had it introduced the hemp ban delay amendment before the House Agriculture Committee when it took up the Farm Bill last month, but the president of that panel determined that the proposal was not in line with the legislation.
The Farm Bill passed by the previous committee includes provisions to help the hemp industry and farmers who grow cannabis for industrial purposes, such as fiber and grain. For example, the legislation would amend statutes related to states and tribes developing regulatory plans for industrial hemp production, including policies on testing, sampling, background checks and record keeping.
Other bipartisan hemp reform bills are pending in Congress.
This month, for example, it was introduced by Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA). The Hemp Safety Enforcement Act, which would give states the option of federal recriminalization of THC hemp products. it will be established this year.
Ernst withdrew his name, however, as a sponsor of the legislation. His office did not respond to Marihuana Moment’s request for clarification on the move.
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It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
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The US Department of Agriculture published this month shows that US farmers grow $3 billion in hemp crops by 2025— 64% increase compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, this month the Trump administration launched a new initiative Cover up to $500 of hemp-derived products annually for eligible Medicare patients. The program being implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) focuses largely on CBD, but also allows a certain amount of THC in products.
Anti-marijuana organizations filed a lawsuit against the Medicare hemp coverage policyand Health and Human Services attorneys. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Director Mehmet Oz recently He submitted a letter requesting the filing of the case.
Meanwhile, the White House Management and Budget Office has held a series of meetings a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) CBD product enforcement policy.
The FDA also issued guidance making it clear that it does not intend to interfere Establish a Medicare coverage plan for hemp-derived products.
CMS finalized a rule that will be adopted separately Coverage of certain hemp products, primarily as specialized health-related benefits, through Medicare Advantage the plans
As hemp products become more popular among consumers, some big brands are trying to get in on the action.
The main retailer Target, for example, is expanding its involvement in the hemp-derived THC beverage market. Last year, the company began a pilot program in 10 stores in Minnesota that sell cannabis drinks. That apparently went well, and now the company has secured licenses from Minnesota regulators to sell lower-potency edible hemp products — including THC drinks — in 72 stores in the state.
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North Carolina lawmakers say they’re fueling debate over the state’s marijuana laws — a move by the Trump administration to reclassify it as a less dangerous drug.
Across the country, a set of laws and enforcements regulate marijuana. The drug is illegal under federal law, but dozens of US states have legalized it. And almost all states have legalized medical marijuana prescriptions for certain ailments. North Carolina is among the remaining states to resist any form of legalization. Republican politicians in North Carolina have resisted passing any bills to legalize or decriminalize marijuana, despite public opinion polls showing broad public support for such changes.
Senate President Phil Berger said he expects his chamber to revisit efforts to legalize medical marijuana this week. “We will have a conversation within our caucus if they are interested in whether we do something,” Berger told reporters Tuesday.
The recent actions of Republican President Donald Trump may add a new dimension to these conversations. Trump’s acting attorney general on Thursday signed the drug classification as a less dangerous and less strictly regulated drug than marijuana. Federal law does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use.
Read more at WRAL News
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