Bipartisan Congress Members Urge Opposition to Hemp Product Ban Threatening $28B Industry

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, including four representatives from Kentucky, are opposing proposed language in the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture-FDA Appropriations Bill that would redefine legal hemp and potentially ban most hemp-derived products due to their trace levels of THC. They warn this change could devastate the $28.4 billion hemp industry, which supports over 320,000 American jobs and generates significant state tax revenue. Representative James Comer and others emphasize the importance of maintaining responsible regulations rather than a prohibition, advocating for measures such as age restrictions, third-party lab testing, and standardized packaging to protect consumers while supporting industry growth. Senator Mitch McConnell supports closing what he calls a "loophole" that allows some manufacturers to produce intoxicating THC products from hemp under current law, citing concerns about bad actors exploiting the market. However, many lawmakers and industry advocates argue that banning all products with any THC content would criminalize 95% of hemp products, including non-intoxicating CBD items, and urge Congress to strip harmful language from the bill. Kentucky lawmakers have also strengthened state regulations on hemp-derived products to address these concerns without imposing a federal ban.