Nebraska Bill to Ban Hemp THC Products Stalled Until Next Year

A Nebraska proposal to ban most hemp THC products has stalled after the
bill’s main sponsor, state Sen. Kathleen Kauth (R), requested the bill be
“passed over” Friday due to uncertain support for the proposal, the Nebraska
Examiner reports.

Legislative Bill 316 would have effectively banned products containing
hemp-derived THC and other cannabinoids, except for cannabidiol (CBD), but
lawmakers will have to take up the issue again next year.

The bill was supported by all of the Legislature’s Republican cohort except
for state Sen. Ben Hansen (R), who had promised to oppose the bill if it
was not amended to contain protections for the state’s medical cannabis
program as, in its current form, the bill could “greatly impact” the
program.

“That’s something I cannot have. I think the people passed [medical
cannabis] for a specific reason, and I think they are then due to have what
they voted for.” — Hansen, via the Nebraska Examiner

Kauth’s proposal had also included a “consumer safe harbor period” for the
rest of 2025 so consumers could legally discard any hemp THC products.
Under the proposal, any hemp products that would not have been targeted by
the ban would have been subjected to an additional 10% wholesale tax on all
purchases, with the additional revenue reserved for property tax relief,
the report said.

While the proposal was targeting hemp-based cannabinoids, the bill carved
out some allowances for the mature stalks of hemp plants to support hemp
fiber- and textile-based products.

Meanwhile, Nebraska voters approved medical cannabis legalization in the
state last year, but lawmakers have so far failed to pass any proposal
implementing the reforms.