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Congressional Republicans are moving against state medical cannabis markets and legal intoxicating hemp with the backing of President Donald Trump.
Medical cannabis markets are under threat in the federal spending bill backed by President Donald Trump.
It is part of the “Big Beautiful Bill” being pushed by Trump.
The spending bill would delete an amendment that protects the state-legal medical cannabis markets from federal marijuana prohibition.
The large, controversial spending bill has drawn great opposition, including from Trump’s former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader, Elon Musk.
It remains to be seen what will happen.
Many thought Trump in his second term would be more pro-cannabis.
A subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that includes banning intoxicating hemp.
The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee controls the budget of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
They were happy to promote that the new spending bill closes “the hemp loophole that has resulted in the proliferation of unregulated intoxicating hemp products, including Delta-8 and hemp flower, being sold online and in gas stations across the country.”
“As many States have stepped in to curb these dangerous products from reaching consumers, particularly children, it’s time for Congress to act to close this loophole while protecting the industrial hemp industry,” subcommittee Chair Andry Harris (R-MD-1) said.
The bill still needs to be approved by the full committee, the House, and the Senate to go into effect.
But it seems pro-cannabis Republicans are against it too. So they might be able to make progress quickly.
“Hemp-derived THC products are already widely available across the country. Despite legislators’ intent, this budget provision won’t change that fact. But it will ensure these products are made and sold without oversight,” said The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) CEO and Co-founder Aaron Smith.
The NCIA is urging lawmakers to reject language in a proposed House Appropriations bill that would redefine hemp to ban any product containing a “quantifiable” amount of THC.
Instead, they are calling for federal cannabis legalization.
The alcohol industry, both in New Jersey and across the U.S., has gotten into the intoxicating hemp business with low-dose infused drinks sold at liquor stores, which have become popular.
They are trying to stop New Jersey and the U.S. from going forward with banning intoxicating hemp.
The Wine and Spirit Wholesalers Association (WSWA) has voiced opposition.
“WSWA supports the subcommittee’s action to eliminate synthetic, unnatural cannabinoids that are a threat to public health and safety,” said Francis Creighton, WSWA President and CEO. “But prohibition of all cannabinoids is not the answer.”
“States have stepped up to fill the regulatory vacuum. Congress must be careful not to undermine their progress,” said Creighton.
According to them, “WSWA remains committed to advancing responsible, regulated markets for all beverage alcohol and cannabinoid-based products. And continues to call for comprehensive federal and state reforms that prioritize consumer safety, regulatory clarity, and state authority.”
Hemp is a thriving industry across the United States. It is largely free of the compromises and red tape that is handicapping state-legal cannabis companies.
Hemp was supposed to be legalized for industrial purposes only in 2018 when the Farm Bill under the Republican Congress passed and then, and Trump signed it into law.
They explicitly outlawed Delta 9-THC. But they didn’t know there were many other cannabinoids that get you high. There are several, like Delta-8 THC, Delta 10-THC, THCA, and others.
Progress on the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) process to schedule Marijuana to Schedule III, which included leading New Jersey advocates and an opponent, was always going to be hard. It has been stopped since the inauguration of Trump in January.
Pro-cannabis Democrats are unhappy that more progress was not made under now-former President Joe Biden, former Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). They were pushing for it strongly in 2021.
Federal cannabis legalization has enjoyed bipartisan support for some time among progressive Democrats and libertarian Republicans.
The prospect of justice and making money might be enticing to both.
So, some cannabis business trade groups are trying to work with Republicans to try to make progress.
Thus, while legalization has popular support, it could seem a matter of time before we see it. But how and exactly when remains to be seen.
“}]] Congressional Republicans are moving against state medical cannabis markets and legal intoxicating hemp with the backing of Donald Trump. Read More
