US Senate Removes Hemp THC Ban From Agriculture Bill

The U.S. Senate has removed language from the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act that would have banned intoxicating hemp-derived THC products nationwide. The provision, initially added by Senator Mitch McConnell to close a perceived loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill, aimed to prohibit hemp products containing quantifiable amounts of THC or synthetic cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC. However, Senator Rand Paul opposed the ban, arguing it would devastate Kentucky's hemp industry, and threatened to block the entire agriculture spending bill if the restrictions remained. Following negotiations, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the bill without the hemp ban, preserving the industry's current legal status. While this removal maintains the federal allowance for the sale of intoxicating hemp products, the hemp ban language still exists in the House version of the bill, and discussions on a long-term regulatory solution are ongoing. The outcome was welcomed by hemp industry groups, who highlighted the importance of protecting farmers, entrepreneurs, and consumers nationwide.