Overview

• The House Appropriations Subcommittee advanced an amendment to redefine federally legal hemp to exclude products containing quantifiable THC or similar cannabinoids.
• If the full committee approves the change on June 11, most hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including Delta-8 edibles and smokable hemp flower, would be illegal nationwide.
• Industry groups such as the U.S. Hemp Roundtable warn that the measure could devastate the legal hemp market, while Smart Approaches to Marijuana calls it a vital step to curb unregulated intoxicants.
• The proposal includes exemptions for FDA-approved medications such as Epidiolex but has raised concerns that prohibition could push consumers toward unregulated products and illicit suppliers.
• Several states, including Texas and Nebraska, have moved to restrict or ban THC products, creating a patchwork of regulations across the U.S.