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Hemp Isn’t A Loophole—It’s A Legal Industry, And It’s Under Attack (Op-Ed)

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1 month ago

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“What this will do is put consumers at risk, steal tax revenue from municipalities and states, and ultimately hurt farmers across the nation.”

By Adam Stettner, FundCanna

Congress did something terribly shorthanded. They crammed a massive policy change into a budget deal and mistakenly called it “public safety.”

If the changes stand, it will wipe out a more than $28 billion market, kill about 300,000 jobs, and eliminate one of the best national paths we have today to safe and sensible cannabis reform and regulation. A prime example is when the government burned down a house to kill the spider.

This is not politics. The 2018 Farm Bill is an example of evil politics being used to kill an industry without having the courage to reverse it and fight back.

The Straw Man: “Unregulated hemp is dangerous, so we need a blanket ban.”

Proponents of the change argued that hemp-derived intoxicants such as Delta-8 THC are a public health threat. That it is sold to children. They are untested. That they escaped a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill.

Although there is some element of truth in their arguments, this is not indicative of the whole truth.

In short, that narrative is written to support blanket prohibition. Every industry has bad actors, companies and people who game the system. Instead of destroying an entire industry to get rid of bad actors, you analyze the problem, determine the underlying problem, and use logic and law to create, regulate, and enforce structure.

That is not what Congress has done.

Leading this charge is Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who appears to be trying to clean up what he sees as a legislative mess he authored. In 2018, he supported the Farm Bill that legalized hemp. Today, he says this law inadvertently unleashed an unregulated flood of what he calls “gas station cannabis” and that the only solution is to shut down the entire industry.

The correct solution? A framework that includes maximum potency, laboratory testing, package size, distribution guidelines, age conditions, and a structure to enforce the above. All of this would address concerns about “gas station hemp” and the risk to children.

In short, I’m all for regulation. This is not a regulation. It is eradication.

Reality: This is a legal, licensed, thriving and job-creating industry

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp. That law was written, passed and signed by Congress and President Donald Trump, who has since endorsed the benefits of CBD and cannabinoids and asserted that cannabis policy should be left up to the states.

Since then, an entire market has grown up around hemp-derived cannabinoids. Manufacturers, retailers and financial partners have invested hundreds of millions in business compliance, taxation and job creation.

Cannabis entrepreneurs have built legitimate and highly regulated businesses that now employ hundreds of thousands of Americans. Their success does not depend on speculation, but on sustainable business models, sound financial management and sustainable access to capital;

The new provisions ban products containing more than 0.4 mg of THC per container. If passed, that would wipe out 95 percent of the hemp-derived market, according to industry estimates. And it would do so without holding a single hearing or public comment period, driving an industry underground to beg for regulation.

What this will do is put consumers at risk, steal tax revenue from municipalities and states, and ultimately hurt farmers nationwide. It will drive cultivation, production and manufacturing into the black market as it has done in the case of prohibition or unexpected legal structures.

One only has to look at the state’s legal cannabis market, which still operates under federal prohibition, to see a legal market that has grown to $35 billion but has simultaneously fueled an illegal market north of $100 billion.

The ban doesn’t work. Half-baked structures and scattered laws without a clear framework, understanding of basic economic principles and lack of regulation/enforcement do not work.

“This is just the beginning”? Let’s not invent ghosts

Some in the broader cannabis industry fear this is the horse behind future attacks on legal THC. This paranoia is understandable, but wrong.

This is not part of a coordinated federal crackdown. It’s a last-minute misguided attempt to solve a real consumer safety issue using the wrong tool. The maturity of the cannabis industry will be determined by its ability to distinguish between good policy and bad process. It is the latter.

Every part of the plant, regardless of label, requires logic, science-backed education, data, debate, and sensible, thoughtful regulation.

Do you want security? Regulate, not abolish

Intoxicating products must be tested, sales must be restricted to adults, packaging and potency must be clearly labeled. This is called regulation.

We regulate alcohol, tobacco and caffeine. We regulate thousands of other industries. What we don’t do is ban entire industries through the fine print in budget bills.

If Congress wants to fix the Farm Bill’s flaws, hold hearings. Invite scientists. Ask the Food and Drug Administration for guidance. Bring industry leaders to the table. What we don’t need is a hidden policy reversal tucked into a spending bill without public debate.

Over the decades, prohibition brought us figures like Al Capone and El Chapo, and created drug trafficking from all corners of the world. It involves crime, money laundering, loss of life, and it’s all pointless. What will the ban create in this case? Just imagine.

Although scientifically less dangerous than cannabis, the regulated alcohol and tobacco industries today employ millions, generate billions in sales and, above all, provide consumers with standardized and safer products through proper oversight. Yet we continue to vilify and ban rather than regulate.

The financial consequences are real

Ban hemp, and you haven’t gotten rid of “gas station” hemp.

You kill an entire industry, even the good parts. You eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs. You eliminate tax revenue at the federal and state and municipal levels. You immediately take $30 billion out of the economy and push that money into illegal channels. You’re directly putting the product you’ve outlawed into the hands of children and those you claim to protect. Eliminating jobs and the possibility of regulation, oversight, safer products and age-status in the process.

Banning the industry does not protect consumers, it penalizes law-abiding and responsible business owners who are open to regulation and oversight.

The cannabis industry doesn’t want a free pass, but it deserves fair and responsible regulation. That starts with policy making that is deliberate, transparent and informed by the people doing the work on the ground.

Congress, your actions have created a much bigger problem than the problem you were trying to solve. If you want to keep our children safe and support our farmers and industries, do it the right way by regulating with logic. There is a way to have it all, this isn’t it.

Adam Stettner, CEO of FundCanna, has overseen more than $20 billion in loans in underserved markets.

Max Jackson’s photo.

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Happy Holidays!

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18 hours ago

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December 29, 2025

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Next publication on January 5, 2026






We are officially closing for the holidays. MMJDaily will be back on January 5, 2026, a little more rested.

Thank you for staying with us until 2025. Go enjoy your vacation, eat too much, sleep too little and try not to set anything on fire. See you next year!

© Mirthe Walpot | MMJDaily.com



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Bipartisan Majority Of American Voters Support Marijuana Legalization, New Poll Finds After Trump Orders Rescheduling

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18 hours ago

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December 29, 2025

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A two-fold majority of American voters across nearly every major demographic — age, race, gender and political affiliation — support legalizing marijuana, according to a new poll released just days ago. President Donald Trump issued an executive order to agencies to further reform cannabis rescheduling..

The poll, conducted by JL Partners and commissioned by The Daily Mail, showed that 53 percent of registered US voters support legalization. This includes 62% of Democrats and 51% of Republicans.

The poll simply asked, “Would you be for or against the legalization of marijuana?”

While there was majority support among all age demographics, 30-49 year olds had 61 percent support. But even 50 percent of the over-65s, historically the most conservative age group, favor policy change.

58% of men are in favor of legalization, and 50% of women are in favor of reform.

The survey Between December 20 and 21, there were interviews with 1,000 registered voters. This means that Trump has asked the attorney general to declare marijuana under Title III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

The move would not have federally legalized cannabis, and administration officials stressed at the signing ceremony of the reorganization order that legalization was not their intention.

However, what the reorganization would do is symbolically recognize marijuana’s medical value, allow cannabis companies to take federal tax deductions, and loosen some research barriers related to Schedule I drugs.

A recent Daily Mail poll comes with growing bipartisanship over legalizing marijuana in general, but Another recent YouGov poll found Republicans evenly split on the issue41% in favor and 41% against the wider reform.

However, a bipartisan majority of Americans said in that poll that they support federally rescheduling marijuana.

Additionally, a majority (76%) of respondents to the YouGov survey also said marijuana either “definitely” (43%) or “probably” (33%) has “legitimate medical uses.” There was also a bilateral agreement on that question. Most Democrats said cannabis has medical value (84%), followed by independents (74%) and Republicans (73%).

—
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
—

The reorganization process started by the Biden administration, which Trump has now called for an end, is still pending. Congressional researchers also recently released a report indicating that there is a possibility The Justice Department may choose to restart the process, or even not complete it. But according to previous polls, reform across the corridor is politically popular.

The president said this month that cannabis can “make people feel a lot better.” It serves as a “substitute for addictive and potentially deadly opioid painkillers.” He clarified, however, that he personally has no interest in using marijuana himself.

So does Trump He dismissed the concerns of GOP lawmakers who oppose the reconsiderationstating that an overwhelming majority of Americans support reform and that cannabis can help people with serious health problems—including his personal friends.

Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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Nighttime humidity is not a problem that needs to be vented away

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2 days ago

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December 28, 2025

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Night hours present a persistent and costly challenge for commercial greenhouse operators. When the thermal screens are closed and the ventilations are closed, the greenhouse is closed, trapping the moisture produced by the crop. This creates a high-stakes battle against condensation, disease and unnecessary energy loss. Amir Kandlik, B.Sc. Plant Science and Genetics in Agriculture and agronomist with Drygair explores the critical problem of nighttime humidity and explains the strategic shift from traditional ventilation-based control to a system built around active indoor dehumidification. “This ‘closed greenhouse’ approach improves energy efficiency and supports stronger crop health.”

© Drygair

Night challenge: Thermodynamic and pathological risk
“At night, plants continue to transpire even though photosynthesis has stopped. Without the drying effect of daytime conditions, the air mass in the greenhouse quickly approaches saturation,” says Amir. “Traditional methods rely on ventilation, but ventilation replaces warm, CO₂-rich air with cold outside air. This increases heating demand, destabilizes temperatures and can introduce more moisture, especially in humid weather.”

A variation of this, heating the air before it is vented, wastes energy because the air conditioner is blown out immediately. “In cold, rainy, or snowy conditions, ventilation becomes impossible and humidity increases unchecked. As relative humidity rises above 85 percent and temperatures drop, surface temperatures can drop below the dew point. Condensation then forms on leaves, fruit, and structural elements, creating conditions that promote Botrytis, powdery mildew, and powdery mildew.”

Solution: “Closed” paradigm with active dehumidification.
A more advanced strategy replaces night ventilation with active internal dehumidification, keeping the greenhouse closed. Amir explains that it starts when the unit pulls in moist air, cools it below its dew point and condenses the water vapor into liquid form. “The latent heat released by condensation is captured and recycled, heating the dry air before redistributing it throughout the cottage. Instead of losing heat to dryness, this method converts moisture into heat and creates a net positive energy cycle.”

© Drygair

Basic advantages of the closed night strategy
This approach improves disease prevention by maintaining a stable vapor pressure deficit and preventing dew formation. Keeping surfaces above the dew point significantly reduces disease pressure. Flower tests recorded a 98% reduction in Botrytis when relative humidity remained below 85%. Energy efficiency is also increased because the airfields remain closed and latent heat is recovered during dehumidification. Vegetable producers have reported energy savings of 50%.

“Climate uniformity is improved as constant air circulation removes microclimates, and sealed conditions store CO₂ for uptake at dawn,” says Amir. Crop quality and yield benefit from consistent transpiration and improved movement of nutrients and calcium. Basil had a 15 percent yield increase without downy mildew, and unheated tomato houses had a 25 percent higher yield per stem.

Practical settings for leaders
Adopting this strategy requires changing the operational logic, which is usually handled by a climate computer. “During the day, the vents are open and the natural ventilation manages the humidity, so the dehumidifiers are turned off. At night, when the outside temperature drops below the indoor set point, the vents and screens close, and the dehumidifier operates at an RH of about 75 to 80 percent. The priority is to maintain a dew point range of at least 2 degrees. While heating is used only for temperature stability, nighttime temperatures stay below 10 degrees Celsius. in regions with , an additional defrost coil is required for continuous operation.

Looking at the field results
Field studies show that flowers grown according to this strategy maintained lower relative humidity, achieved significant energy savings and did not require night ventilation. Basil trials showed a 15 percent increase in yield and zero downy mildew. Tomatoes and peppers have seen a 5 to 25 percent increase in yield and a 98 percent reduction in disease. Cannabis growers recorded 30 to 40 percent higher yields with about 50 percent energy savings.

Specific questions about geography and climate
In very cold climates, this view is especially good. Ventilating at minus 10 degrees Celsius creates an extreme heating load, and sealing the greenhouse and dehumidifying the interior retains heat, recovers latent heat and reduces boiler use. In hot and humid climates, night ventilation is unreliable during warm or rainy weather. Active dehumidification removes moisture in a controlled manner, and with additional Air-Water Heat Exchange, the system can heat or cool the air through an external water loop.

Supporting scientific and technical references
Research includes Elad and Shtienberg’s work on Botrytis cinerea, University of Massachusetts Extension greenhouse moisture reduction guidance, Stanghellini’s transpiration studies, and Ho and Adams’ work on water and nutrient uptake in tomatoes.

Without ventilation
“Nighttime humidity is not a problem to be banished, but an imbalance to be managed,” says Amir. “The closed greenhouse strategy treats moisture as an energy resource instead of a waste product. By keeping greenhouses closed at night and using active internal dehumidification, growers can reduce disease, improve energy efficiency, retain CO₂, stabilize the nighttime climate, and increase yield and crop quality. This is one of the most impactful changes in modern greenhouse climate management.”

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