Cannabis News
Minnesota Hemp Businesses And Senators Say Federal THC Ban Will Hurt The State’s Economy
“Senator Klobuchar voted against the hemp provision because he believed it would hurt the state’s small businesses.”
Minnesota has a growing industry of intoxicating hemp products, including soft drinks and gummies. A product ban making its way through Congress in a bill that would reopen the federal government.
The bill gives the industry 365 days before all products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC (a trace) are outlawed. Christopher Lackner, president of the Hemp Beverages Alliance, hopes to give the industry time to push back against the provision, which he called “arbitrary” and “punitive.”
He said he’s betting on “the pushback from consumers, suppliers and distributors and everyone else in the supply chain” that a ban on THC-infused products made from hemp will cause.
“Our hope as an industry is that Congress will come back and meet with all the stakeholders and build a federal hemp beverage framework that worksLackner said.
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp, removing it from the federal definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act and treating it as an agricultural commodity. It also opened the doors to the production of “modifying” products derived from hemp.
Minnesota led the nation in harnessing the redefinition of hemp. Whitney Economics’ Latest report on THC beverages It estimated total US THC beverage sales to exceed $1.1 billion in 2024, and Minnesota was a key state in that growth.
Success has come at a price, however. Competing industries, mostly the nation’s nascent legal marijuana industry and, more recently, the beer and spirits industries, furiously lobbied to shut down what they saw as “the loophole”. in the 2018 Farm Bill that has led to an explosion of hemp-infused products.
The marijuana and alcohol industries say hemp products are largely unregulated and some contain dangerous amounts of THC. They also say there are no labeling and marketing restrictions or efforts to keep THC-infused drinks and edibles away from children.
On Monday, the Beer Institute, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and other alcohol trade groups He sent a lobbying letter to members of CongressSen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., urging the rejection of an amendment that would have removed the bill’s blackout language.
“Producers of alcoholic beverages, one of the top consumer products, are asking the Senate to reject Paul’s attempts to allow hemp-derived THC products to be sold across the country without federal regulation and oversight,” the letter said.
Their argument won the day.
The legislation that would have ended the shutdown includes three appropriations bills in fiscal year 2026 to fund various government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where the hemp provision was inserted. All other federal agencies would receive short-term funding — through the end of January — under a continuing resolution, or CR.
While the hemp industry lost the lobbying battle, it gained supporters in the US Capitol. Paul, for example, blocked Senate GOP leaders from getting unanimous approval to fast-track the shutdown bill, which overcame a six-week Democratic gridlock on a 60-40 vote Sunday afternoon.
The US Senate voted to table—or reject—the Paul amendment, 76-24. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D) and Tina Smith (D) of Minnesota were in the minority in support of the effort to remove the hemp language.
“Senator Klobuchar voted against the hemp provision because he believed it would harm the state’s small businesses and because Congress’ efforts to regulate hemp products should take into account states like Minnesota that already have strong regulations,” a Klobuchar spokesperson said.
Lackner also said lawmakers in Congress were trampling on states’ rights to regulate intoxicating hemp products.
“This is a slap in the face to states like Minnesota that have developed regulatory frameworks based on stakeholder input,” he said.
The hemp switch is wrong from every angle‘
Steve Brown, CEO of Nothing but Hemp, a Northeast Minneapolis-based company that makes THC-infused gummies and drinks, brewery emulsions and a variety of other hemp-based products, said the shutdown bill could spur a move into the marijuana industry.
That said, if President Donald Trump signs the legislation, as expected, the manufacture and sale of its products will be illegal under federal law, and it will have a major impact on its market.
Brown said liquor stores could not offer any of his drinks on the shelves. Microbreweries, which have tried to combat declining beer sales by offering THC drinks that are more popular than alcohol among young people, would be breaking federal law if they continued to offer such libations.
And retail stores, including Target, would likely stop selling THC-infused drinks and other products because customers wouldn’t be able to pay for them with credit cards due to federal banking rules.
Shipping THC-infused products across state lines would also be against federal law.
“I think it’s wrong from every angle,” Brown said of the hemp provision in the shutdown legislation.
Brown said he manufactures about 2 million cans a year and that his THC-infused beverage operation is small compared to other Minnesota companies.
He said he started his business in a kiosk with a sign that read “Try CBD,” a non-intoxicating hemp ingredient that is praised for its medicinal value. If hemp-infused drinks and edibles are outlawed, Brown says he’s preparing to turn Nothing but Hemp, which has 60 employees, into a marijuana business.
Jim Taylor, a spokesman for the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management, said “any draft or proposed (hemp) language is being reviewed to see its impact on Minnesota.”
“This is a complex policy issue, and we are reviewing it with the Attorney General,” Taylor said.
Just signed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison a letter They said unregulated THC products pose a threat to the general public along with 38 other attorneys general.
David Ladd, president of the Minnesota Industrial Hemp Association, said his group has tried to be as neutral as possible on the issue. But he said the state’s hemp growers also don’t want to “stifle innovation and investment” in hemp, which can be used to produce a variety of products, including biofuels, paper and textiles.
“I get regulations and sponsors for hemp products,” Ladd said. “But an arbitrary change in the definition of hemp is no substitute for measured regulation.”
The US Senate gave final approval to the shutdown bill late Monday. The legislation now heads to the US House, where Minnesota’s Democratic House members are expected to join the state’s two Democratic senators — Klobuchar and Smith — to reject the legislation.
So the longest government shutdown is on its way to an end after eight moderate Democrats in the US Senate dropped their opposition to the bill. GOP leaders said they offered a fair deal because the legislation would protect programs from Trump’s budget cuts and the Affordable Care Act subsidy extension promised by Senate Leader John Thune (R-SD) in exchange for Democrats’ votes to reopen the government.
This led to an onslaught of criticism from Democratic colleagues and Democratic voters.
Rep. Angie Craig, D-2. Barrutiko, for example, posted on social media “If people think this is a ‘deal’, I have a bridge to sell you.”
This the article appeared for the first time MinnPost and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.
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Greenhouse growers are working in conditions where crop yield and energy use must be managed simultaneously. According to Timo Spruijt, Chief Customer Officer at RED Horticulture, this requires a shift from fixed lighting schedules to approaches based on plant light responses.
“Lighting is moving from static control to measured and predictable strategies,” says Timo. “That starts with understanding how plants react to light and translating that into everyday decisions.”
© RED Horticulture
This approach is based on photobiology, which links plant development to light conditions. Two parameters are central: intensity and spectrum. Light intensity affects photosynthesis, biomass accumulation and yield, while spectrum affects morphology, flowering, rooting and nutritional composition. Paul Vailhen, photobiologist at RED, points out that these factors must be managed together. “Focusing on one parameter without the other limits how plants use light. The interaction between intensity and spectrum determines photon efficiency.”
He explained that growers can use this knowledge to target harvests more precisely. “When photobiology is applied in practice, lighting becomes a management tool rather than a fixed input.”
Three areas
To support this, RED Horticulture organizes its offer around three areas: luminaires, control platform and agronomic orientation. These components are intended to respond to changes during the day and during the cultivation phases. “The needs of the plants are not constant,” says Timo. “Lighting strategies must follow these variations.”
The MyRED platform is used to translate greenhouse data into lighting decisions. Growers can monitor performance and adjust lighting strategies through a dashboard. “The platform allows producers to define and modify their light recipes and evaluate the results,” explains Timo. “It links crop data with energy use.”
He added that implementation goes beyond software. “Support continues after installation. We work with growers to set goals, apply strategies and adjust over time.”
Energy use
Energy use is a major factor in greenhouse operations. Timo connects lighting strategies directly with consumption. “Understanding how intensity and spectrum affect power use helps growers manage their energy input,” he says. “This could lead to changes in the way lighting is applied during the day.”
Automation is also part of today’s greenhouse practices. The system can adjust the lighting throughout the day according to predefined strategies. “Automation reduces manual adjustments and keeps light levels consistent,” says Timo. “It also allows control over the entire light output.”
He noted that automated control can contribute to additional energy savings beyond the performance of the luminaires. “When strategies are applied dynamically, further reductions in energy use are possible.”
Research
This is another part of the research approach. Through the Photobiology and Agronomy Research Center (PARC), RED Horticulture conducts trials under controlled conditions. Timo explains how this relates to commercial production. “Trials allow strategies to be tested before implementation. Producers can then apply these results with a clearer view of expected outcomes.”
The goal is to make photobiology applicable to different crops and growing environments. “The same principles can be adapted to different varieties and production systems,” says Timo. It concludes by returning to the role of knowledge in greenhouse management. “Understanding photobiology is the starting point. From there, growers can build lighting strategies that match crop requirements and energy constraints.”
For more information:
RED Horticulture
World Horti Center
Europe 1
2672 ZX Naaldwijk
+31 174 705 617
horticulture.red/
Cannabis News
Hawaii Lawmakers Approve Bill To Create Psychedelics Task Force Charged With Studying Psilocybin And MDMA
Another Hawaii House committee has passed the Senate-passed bill creating a psychedelic task force responsible for analyzing and making policy recommendations about providing access to breakthrough therapies like psilocybin and MDMA.
The House Finance Committee advanced the legislation to Sen. Chris Lee (D) on a 15-0 vote Tuesday. The measure, which passed the Senate last month by a 24-0 vote, will next go to the House floor before returning to the Senate for that chamber to consider final amendments.
The bill would create Creative Mental Health Therapy, a two-year review of the current scientific literature, supporting additional clinical research and developing policy recommendations for the “safe, ethical, and culturally informed implementation” of a psychedelic therapy program.
“The Legislature believes in addressing the mental health crisis affecting the State’s residents, particularly among veterans, first responders and trauma survivors,” SB 3199 reads. “Suicide remains the leading cause of preventable death, and the State must explore all safe and effective treatment options supported by scientific evidence.”
Given that the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated psilocybin and MDMA as breakthrough therapies in the treatment of serious mental health conditions, which may be subject to future control under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Hawaii’s legislation states that the state must “proactively prepare public health, clinical and research systems for safe and equitable implementation.”
The state Department of Health said in House committee testimony that it supports the bill, noting that in light of the FDA’s action on psychedelics, it is “prudent for Hawaii to assess research readiness, regulatory implications, workforce development and culturally informed implementation pathways” before any federal rescheduling of the substances.
The Governor’s Office of Wellness and Resiliency said the bill “has an important opportunity to begin paving a planned pathway for people who need access to life-saving treatments for trauma and other mental health issues.”
“A growing body of research demonstrates that breakthrough therapies (such as MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapies) demonstrate high efficacy and positive clinical outcomes in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, end-of-life anxiety, eating disorders, depression, treatment-resistant, and additional conditions in terminally ill patients.”
Team members should include representatives from the State Department of Health (DOH), the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of Wellness and Resiliency (OWR), the University of Hawaii School of Medicine, and more.
Like the draft, the DOH would oversee the task force, an amendment approved by the House Health Committee last month makes the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) the responsible institution, and JABSOM’s nominee as the panel’s chairman.
The commission also adopted amendments suggested by the Department of Law Enforcement to say that its Division of Narcotics Enforcement — and not the Board of Pharmacy — would be responsible for changing the state’s scheduling of psychedelics after any federal reclassification, and to change the deadline for doing so from 90 days to 30 days.
Members note in their bill report that the state Agency for Health Planning and Development has expressed concern that psychedelics are illegal under federal law and that the task force should proceed with caution.
Finally, the panel made technical corrections for clarity, consistency, and style.
If ordered, it appears invoice would be It was first assembled in 2023 based on prior work by a separate psychedelic task force.With a similar goal of exploring avenues for therapeutic access in breakthrough drugs approved by the FDA such as psilocybin.
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Meanwhile, Hawaii senators recently passed a bill to legalize low-dose, low-potency marijuanathe legislation did not advance the necessary steps before a crucial deadline, so it is dead for the year.
A separate marijuana legalization bill, SB 2421, that contained provisions under federal reform law or amendments to the state Constitution, was delayed for action. The Senate and House panels also delayed action on a measure to sell certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products.
These actions follow Senior lawmakers in the House indicated that proposals to legalize cannabis would not move forward In the 2026 session, citing the lack of sufficient support in their chamber.
Earlier this month, a Hawaii Senate committee unanimously approved legislation to allow patients immediately enter medical cannabis after submitting their recordsinstead of waiting for the cards to be delivered, as is the case under current legislation.
A Senate committee also adopted the resolutions Asking Congress to federally legalize marijuanasupport the state’s efforts to clean up people’s criminal records and take steps to make it easier for cannabis companies to access banking services.
Another Senate panel advanced separate resolutions urging the state attorney general and the health department to seek a waiver from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Hawaii is allowed to run its cannabis program without federal interference.
user photo Wikimedia/Mushroom Observer.
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The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says the marijuana redistricting appeals process “remains pending” despite President Donald Trump issuing an executive order more than three months ago ordering the attorney general to pursue reform “as expeditiously as possible.”
The DEA and reform advocates filed a joint status report Monday on the agency’s interlocutory appeal of bias and improper communications with parties opposed to the redistricting.
“To date, the Movants’ interlocutory appeal to the Administrator on the Motion for Reconsideration remains pending with the Administrator,” said attorneys representing the DEA and cannabis reform advocates who are challenging the process. “No information schedule has been established.”
The agency is responsible for establishing the information schedule. But nearly a year after a former administrative law judge granted the appeal, the DEA is once again delaying the process. This is the fifth consolidated status report, with largely identical language, that the parties have submitted under the administrative litigation order.
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