Cannabis News

New Farm Bill Released By GOP Committee Chair Aims To Reduce Hemp Industry ‘Regulatory Burdens’

Published

7 hours ago

February 13, 2026

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A top House committee chairman has introduced the latest version of a large-scale agriculture bill with provisions that his office says will reduce “regulatory burdens on industrial hemp producers.”

The proposed 2026 Farm Bill released Friday by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) would maintain the industrial hemp program as the cannabinoid industry waits for the recriminalization of consumable cannabinoid products under legislation signed into law by President Donald Trump last year.

But for farmers who grow hemp for industrial purposes, such as fiber and grain, the latest version of the Farm Bill is being touted as a source of industry relief, with policies that allow the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), as well as states and tribes, to reduce or eliminate “testing requirements and background checks for producers.”

Those provisions are modeled after the Industrial Hemp Standalone Act, bipartisan legislation introduced in the 118th Congress aimed at strengthening the hemp market after the crop and its derivatives were federally legalized in 2018 during Trump’s first term.

Under the new 2026 Farm Bill, the USDA would also be mandated to “establish a process by which hemp testing laboratories can be accredited,” a section-by-section summary says. Currently, only Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-accredited laboratories can test hemp yields for compliance purposes, which has created a bottleneck that has historically limited resources.

“A new farm bill is long overdue, and the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 is an important step forward in providing certainty to our farmers, ranchers and rural communities,” Thompson said of the sweeping legislation in a press release Friday.

“This bill offers modern policies for modern challenges and builds on years of listening to the needs of farmers, ranchers and rural Americans,” he said. he said. “The farm bill affects our entire country, whether you live on a farm or not, and I look forward to my colleagues in Congress working together to push this critical legislation through the finish line.”

His panel will begin examining the bill on February 23.

Although the text of the legislation has only just been released to the public, the Democratic leadership has already argued with the draft proposal.

“A review of the text of the legislation is underway,” said Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), a member of the committee. “As far as I know, the Republican farm bill doesn’t meet the moment before farmers and workers.”

“Farmers need Congress to act quickly to end inflationary tariffs, stabilize trade relations, expand domestic market options like year-round E15, and help lower input costs. The Republican majority instead chose to ignore Democratic priorities and push through a farm bill with poison pills if nothing else complicates their options.” he said. “I strongly urge my Republican colleagues to put aside the political brass and work with House Democrats on a bipartisan bill that addresses the real issues facing farmers right now, before it’s too late.”

Again, regardless of how the proposed revisions to industrial hemp policy play out, there is a more pressing concern for the primary economic driver of the cannabis market—the farmers, manufacturers, and processors of cannabinoids in consumable products like CBD—in this latest Farm Bill.

The spending legislation signed by the president would once again ban cannabinoid products containing trace amounts of THC, which advocates say would upend an already struggling market.

Since 2018, cannabis products have been considered legal hemp if they contain less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight.

However, the law, which will take effect in November, specifies that the weight would 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 would 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 cannot be produced naturally by the plant.

Legal hemp products would be limited to 0.4 milligrams total THC per container or any other cannabinoids with similar effects.

A bill called the Hemp Enforcement, Modernization and Protection (HEMP) Act is a potential alternative to the outright THC ban included in the spending bill signed by Trump. in the affirmative allowing the sale of consumable hemp products to adults over 21 years of age. This includes edibles, beverages and breathable items.

If the legislation were to be enacted, there would be several regulatory restrictions on the market. For example, packaging should not appeal to young people and should be fake. It should also list all the cannabinoids present and include a QR code that links to a certificate of analysis.

Manufacturers of hemp products would be prohibited from adding substances such as alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, nicotine, melatonin or others “that may interact with cannabinoids or enhance or modify their effects.”

There would also be manufacturing and testing requirements, and hemp companies would have to register their facilities.

Additionally, there are provisions mandating the establishment of a total cap on cannabinoids in hemp products. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would be responsible for proposing the cannabinoid limits within 60 days of their enactment.

In the meantime, the liquor dealers got together recently Encourage Congress to delay passage of the law Trump signed to federally recriminalize THC beverages and other hemp-derived products.

The coalition calls on the members of parliament to approve the legislation they have just presented Hemp Plantation Provision Lawthat would give the hemp industry two more years before a federal ban on THC products takes effect, which stakeholders hope will better position them to negotiate a broader regulatory compromise.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), who is sponsoring the proposal, appeared at a news conference last month. farmers concerned about the impact of the federal hemp ban in their businesses.

what’s the point Four out of five marijuana users say they oppose the recriminalization of THC hemp products According to the spending bill Trump signed in November. However, it should be noted that this survey was conducted a few weeks before the cannabis rescheduling order and measures to protect access to full-spectrum CBD.

Meanwhile, it would make way for a recently introduced bill in the Republican-led Congress stop implementing the hemp ban under established credit legislation.

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Hemp companies and industry groups have warned about the potential ramifications of the ban, but despite states in support of cannabis rights and a social media post extolling the benefits of CBD, Trump signed the underlying spending measure into law without endorsing the hemp provisions.

GOP political operative Roger Stone recently said it was Trump 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.

The Democratic governor of Kentucky said that 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.

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Cannabis News

Tilray expands UK pharmaceutical access through partnerships

Published

7 hours ago

February 13, 2026

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Tilray Pharma has announced that its European pharmaceutical distribution business, CC Pharma, has entered into an agreement with Smartway Pharmaceuticals to expand the availability of its pharmaceutical products in the UK.

Through this agreement, CC Pharma and Smartway will jointly support the expansion of parallel importation and specialist pharmaceutical supply in the UK, leveraging Smartway’s established national distribution infrastructure to facilitate the delivery of pharmaceutical products and leveraging CC Pharma’s European purchasing power and GMP capability.

The UK pharma market is almost £1 billion in this category, and this agreement positions Tilray and CC Pharma to work with Smartway to accelerate access, improve reliability of supply and extend reach through trusted healthcare channels.

Rajnish Ohri, International President, Tilray Brands, stated, “The UK is a priority market within Tilray’s international medical strategy. This agreement strengthens our ability to expand access to medicines through established healthcare distribution channels, while advancing long-term growth across the evolving European landscape. Additionally, this agreement is expected to integrate Tilray into its medicinal cannabis system.”

Mathias Bossen, Managing Director of CC Pharma added, “This agreement is an important step forward in expanding our pharmaceutical distribution activities in the UK. By working closely with Smartway and leveraging its strong national network, we are well positioned to improve supply reliability and support our pharmacy and hospital partners with high-quality UK PI product lines.”

Josh Cocklin, CEO of Smartway, said: “Our focus is always on patients and outcomes. Extending what Smartway already does in regulated pharmaceutical supply, this deal supports the continuity and expansion of access to medicines across the UK healthcare service. For patients and the healthcare professionals who care for them, this means less disruption and more predictable access to care.”

For more information:
Tilray
www.tilray.com

Cannabis News

CEA Awards handed out at Indoor Ag-Con

Published

1 day ago

February 12, 2026

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A new tradition in the CEA industry is the annual Gala Luncheon at Indoor Ag-Con, presenting the CEAs — Cultivating Excellence Awards. This year, Jiffy won the Product Innovation award for its gel, and Bright Farms won the Operational Excellence award. The Trainblazer Award was presented to Dr. Gene Fiacomelli, who has dedicated much of his professional and personal life to furthering the cause of growers.

“These teams are setting the pace for controlled environment agriculture while pushing the boundaries in innovation, operations and product development while proving what’s possible in our industry right now,” said organizers Indoor Ag-Con and Inside Grower Magazine.

The awards program is designed to recognize and celebrate excellence, innovation and leadership in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector, highlighting achievements in three categories: Operational Excellence, Product Innovation and a special Trailblazer Award.

Voltiris and Zayndu were nominated for the Product Innovation Award, but Jiffy won for Jiffy Gel, a biodegradable gel-based substrate specifically designed for controlled environment agriculture (CEA).

The nominees for the Operational Excellence Award were haven greens and Planet Farms, and Bright Farms ended up winning. In their words: “BrightFarms measures its success through operational expansion and measurable business results.”

For the Trailblazer award, there were no nominees, but there was a winner. “In our industry there are those who explore the unexplored, ask the questions that no one else asks and push the boundaries of what is possible,” said the organizers. “The Trailblazer Award recognizes those who are not afraid to challenge the status quo and push research and CEA application into new areas.” And that’s Dr. Gene Fiacomelli. Since the beginning of the 80s, his research interests include the research, design, development and applications of controlled environment plant production systems (greenhouse and growth chamber): crop production systems, nutrient supply systems, environmental control, mechanization and labor productivity.

Cannabis News

Colorado Marijuana Revenue Is Declining As Other States Legalize, But It Still Outpaces Alcohol Taxes, Report Shows

Published

1 day ago

February 12, 2026

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Marijuana sales tax revenue has steadily declined in Colorado over the past five years as more states have implemented legalization and intoxicating hemp products have grown in popularity, state officials say in a new report. However, cannabis brings in more tax dollars than alcohol or cigarettes.

In a memo to the nonpartisan Legislative Council of the Colorado legislature, staff “wanted to answer common questions about how marijuana industry revenues fit into Colorado’s state budget.” That includes $231.1 million in cannabis collected by the state in fiscal year 2024-25.

Adult marijuana is taxed at three levels in Colorado: a 15 percent excise tax, a 15 percent sales excise tax, and a 2.9 percent general state sales tax. As one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, Colorado’s revenue from such sales “grew steadily over the first eight years of legalization, reaching $424.4 million in FY 2020-21.”

After that, however, “revenues fell for the first time in 2021-22, and have declined every year,” the Legislative Council said. “Marijuana tax revenue fell to $231.1 million in FY 2024-25, 45.5 percent below the peak in FY 2020-21.”

It is remarkable notice He says the decline in marijuana tax revenue in recent years “has been largely due to low prices and a drop in demand as other states across the country legalize marijuana, and alternatives like intoxicating hemp become more available.”

Gov. Jared Polis (D), a longtime champion of cannabis reform, noted the potential economic impact of expanding legalization, He hoped states like Texas would continue to stave off the problem by scoffing so Colorado could continue to collect marijuana tourism dollars.

Texas may remain a prohibitionist state, but cannabis is now legal for adults in almost half of US states, a broader shift. has obviously contributed to the decrease in income.

But the new report also says the rise of intoxicating hemp products is diverting tax dollars. Whether the federal ban on such products changes when it takes effect in November remains to be seen.

Even as statewide legalization expanded and consumer demand increased in the hemp market, however, the Legislative Council released data comparing marijuana to other vices, including alcohol and cigarettes.

In fiscal year 2024-25, marijuana sales generated more tax revenue than alcohol ($54.3 million), tobacco products ($68.2 million), nicotine products ($91.6 million) and cigarettes ($213.9 million).

through LCS.

Until then, surveys have consistently found this More and more Americans are choosing marijuana and cannabis-infused drinks over alcohol and cigarettes.

Meanwhile, only in 2025, Colorado saw more than $1 billion in marijuana sales, a milestone the governor announced in December. And while the Legislative Council attributed part of the decline in cannabis sales to the sale of intoxicating hemp products, Polis also said recently. The pending federal ban will “stifle growth and innovation” in the market.

Meanwhile, the governor said that last week his state did not have to join a lawsuit supporting a federal ban on the possession of guns by people who use marijuana that’s now before the US Supreme Court, and he personally opposes the state attorney general’s “legal position on it.”

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