Key Congressional Committee Could Vote On Delaying Federal Hemp THC Ban Next Week

A GOP congressman is seeking to amend a large-scale agriculture bill to
delay the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products for one year as
industry stakeholders work to identify a long-term solution to the pending
recriminalization—and a key House committee is expected to consider the
proposal next week.

The hemp sector has been sounding the alarm about the cannabinoid ban that
was included in broader spending legislation President Donald Trump signed
into law last year. They argue that the redefinition of what constitutes
federally legal hemp—which is currently set to take effect in November—
would effectively upend the market that’s emerged since the crop was
legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill during the president’s first term.

Now Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) is looking to get out in front of that ban with
an amendment filed for the 2026 Farm Bill. The House Agriculture Committee
was initially scheduled to take up the measure on Monday, but that hearing
has been delayed until next week due to weather-related complications.

*Here’s the summary of the Baird amendment:*

“This amendment would delay the redefining of hemp by 1 year in section 781
of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and
Related Agency Appropriations Act of 2026.”

Delaying the THC ban by a year would serve as a temporary bridge for the
industry as it works to convince Congress to regulate—rather than
recriminalize—hemp products, and it’s a shorter delay than Baird is working
to secure through separate standalone legislation he filed this session that
would put a pause on the policy change for two years to give stakeholders
more time to navigate the issue.

“There is a growing, urgent desire to make sure that farmers are going to
have some certainty about whether to plant their crops this spring—and they
can’t right now because, if nothing changes, the ban will go into effect in
November,” Jonathan Miller, general counsel of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable,
told Marijuana Moment on Monday. “And at the same time, we’re starting to
see support building for a regulatory approach.”

“There are a ton of negotiations going on, including negotiations with the
White House, and there is a general consensus that something needs to be
done,” he said. “I know not everybody agrees on the specifics of a fix, but
there is general consensus that that this needs to be fixed and that there
needs to be more time to allow for that fix.”

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

The provisions set to take effect later this year specify that, within one
year of enactment, the weight will apply to total THC—including delta-8 and
other isomers. It will also include “any other cannabinoids that have
similar effects (or are marketed to have similar effects) on humans or
animals as a tetrahydrocannabinol (as determined by the Secretary of Health
and Human Services).”

The new definition of legal hemp will additionally ban “any intermediate
hemp-derived cannabinoid products which are marketed or sold as a final
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 not capable of being
naturally produced by it.

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

Within 90 days of the bill’s enactment, the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and other agencies were supposed to publish list of “all cannabinoids
known to FDA to be capable of being naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa
L. plant, as reflected in peer reviewed literature,” “all
tetrahydrocannabinol class cannabinoids known to the agency to be naturally
occurring in the plant” and “all other known cannabinoids with similar
effects to, or marketed to have similar effects to, tetrahyrocannabinol
class cannabinoids.”

However, FDA appears to have missed that deadline. A spokesperson told
Marijuana Moment earlier this month that the lists would be posted in the
Federal Register when they’re available.

Lawmakers from across the aisle have been raising concerns about the
potential consequences of the hemp redefinition, which would eradicate most
consumable cannabinoid products that have become commonplace in states
across the U.S., including those where marijuana hasn’t been legalized.

Rep. James Comer (R-KY) and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan
Shell are among the critics of the ban, and they sent a letter to Sen.
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) last week imploring him to use his influence to
avert the recriminalization, at least on a temporary basis, by supporting
the proposed implementation delay.

While McConnell championed hemp legalization under the 2018 Farm Bill,
however, the former Senate majority leader has supported unraveling the
hemp THC market that he’s described as an unintended consequences of the
broader agriculture legislation.


*— Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug
policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon
supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps,
charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.*


*Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on
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Meanwhile, last month, major alcohol retailers came together to encourage
Congress to delay the enactment of the law Trump signed that will federally
recriminalize hemp-derived THC beverages and other products.

The coalition says it wants to apply the same regulatory structure that
governs beverage alcohol producers, distributors and merchants to hemp
drinks “to ensure safe, transparent access.”

Other alcohol industry groups such as Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America
have also backed regulating hemp products instead of prohibiting them.

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THC Ban Next Week appeared first on Marijuana Moment.