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Update, September 2026: the hemp provision became law in November 2025 and takes effect December 11, 2026.
Hemp has come a long way in the last 7 years. Since the 2018 Farm Bill set the framework for legal production, the hemp industry has flourished, creating over 320,000 jobs and generating more than $28 billion in regulated market activity.
Hemp-derived products, from beverages to edibles, aren’t just popular, they solve a real need for many Americans, offering safer alternatives to alcohol and new ways for people to unwind responsibly.
But now, that progress is at risk.
Why Your Access to Hemp Is At Risk
The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee recently included Section 759, a provision that would prohibit the commercial production, sale, and distribution of certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products. What’s alarming is that it was added with little to no debate—and without input from the committees that are supposed to handle these issues. Representative James Comer of Kentucky rightly called it out, noting that including such language in an appropriations bill violates House rules and bypasses the proper legislative process.
The provision is now law and takes effect December 11, 2026. Hundreds of thousands of jobs could vanish overnight, and an entire young industry could collapse.
The message is clear: the future of hemp should be about progress, creativity, and connection—not rolling back years of hard-won growth.
What You Can Do
You can make a difference by asking your members of Congress to cosponsor the bipartisan Lawful Hemp Protection Act, which would fix the hemp definition before the ban takes effect December 11, 2026. It only takes a minute, and your voice matters:
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