Federal Hemp Laws in Flux as Congressional Negotiations Continue
As the US government shutdown continues, lawmakers are working to reach a deal on federal hemp laws, which have been a topic of debate in recent months. While hemp and its derivatives were legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, there has been growing concern about the proliferation of unregulated intoxicating cannabinoid products.
Two Republican lawmakers, Senator Mitch McConnell and Representative Andy Harris, have pushed for a ban on hemp products containing THC, but others, including Senator Rand Paul, have argued that such a policy change would devastate the industry. Paul has even threatened to hold up large-scale spending legislation if a full ban is implemented.
In a recent interview, Paul emphasized the importance of finding a solution that works for the hemp industry, stating that the current loophole in the law is allowing unregulated products to flood the market. He also pushed back against a recent letter from 39 bipartisan state and territory attorneys general, who urged Republican leaders to ban the marketing of intoxicating hemp products.
Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, said that lawmakers are working to find a solution to the hemp issue, but ultimately, it will come down to what leadership wants. He noted that there are several options on the table, including studying the issue for a year or having the Food and Drug Administration evaluate it.
The House has not yet passed its version of the agriculture appropriations legislation, which includes a hemp ban championed by Harris. The Senate version, which was passed without the ban, is now being negotiated with the House.
Stakeholders in the hemp industry are waiting anxiously for the outcome of the congressional negotiations, but many are optimistic that a solution will be reached. Jonathan Miller, general counsel of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, said that the organization has been communicating with Congress and receiving positive feedback.
The fate of federal hemp laws remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the industry is waiting with bated breath for a resolution.
