A Proposed Federal THC Ban Would ‘Wipe Out’ Hemp Products That Get People High

4 hours ago7 min read1 comments

In a political maneuver as strategically timed as an October surprise, congressional negotiators have tucked a provision into the must-pass federal spending bill that would effectively ban intoxicating hemp-derived THC products—the very gummies, beverages, and edibles that have created a multi-billion dollar industry virtually overnight. This legislative rider, attached to a bill designed to avert a government shutdown, represents a classic Washington power play: using a must-pass vehicle to enact sweeping policy changes with minimal debate.The tactic is reminiscent of the 2018 Farm Bill's own quiet revolution, which legalized hemp by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act but left a regulatory gray zone that entrepreneurs quickly exploited. Now, that gray zone faces an existential threat.The proposed ban targets hemp-derived cannabinoids like delta-8 and delta-10 THC—compounds that can induce psychoactive effects similar to marijuana but which exist in a legal limbo because they're synthesized from CBD extracted from legal hemp. The industry's explosive growth, estimated to be worth nearly $28 billion annually, has been built on this interpretive loophole, creating a regulatory showdown that pits agricultural conservatives against progressive drug policy reformers in an unlikely alliance.The political calculus here is fascinating: social conservatives see these products as a backdoor to nationwide marijuana legalization, while some legalization advocates view them as dangerous, unregulated competitors to state-licensed cannabis programs. The FDA has issued repeated warnings about the safety of these synthetically-derived intoxicants, citing concerns about manufacturing standards and youth access, yet Congress has failed to establish a regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabinoids for years.This legislative vacuum created the market, and now the same legislative process threatens to obliterate it overnight. The consequences would be seismic: thousands of small businesses manufacturing, distributing, and retailing these products would face immediate ruin, from the smoke shops in strip malls to the sophisticated beverage companies that have partnered with major distributors.Consumer choice would narrow dramatically in states without legal marijuana markets, particularly across the South and Midwest where these products often represent the only legal avenue for THC consumption. The political fallout could be equally significant, potentially alienating the hemp farmers who viewed cannabinoid extraction as their economic salvation after years of struggling with fiber and grain markets. This isn't just policy—it's political theater at its most consequential, where the real battle isn't between Democrats and Republicans but between competing visions of what the hemp revolution was supposed to be.

#lead focus news

#hemp

#THC ban

#federal spending bill

#government shutdown

#intoxicating products

#regulation

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