US House approves delay to ban on hemp-derived THC products — The Hill
On September 1, the US House of Representatives approved a temporary government funding bill that provides for a one-month delay in the entry into force of a federal ban on most products containing hemp-derived THC. These include gummies and beverages with psychoactive effects.
As The Hill reports, the House of Representatives backed the document by 370 votes to 48. Nineteen Republicans and 29 Democrats voted against it. The bill provides funding for the federal government through December 11. Earlier, the Senate advanced the measure by an overwhelming majority, and the document must now be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Additional time for the industry
The provision delaying the ban was included in the main bill at the request of the White House, for which postponing or changing the ban is a priority. Representatives of the hemp industry called the decision important because it gives them additional time to convince lawmakers to introduce federal regulation of the products instead of banning them.
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The industry organization U.S. Hemp Roundtable said it would work with lawmakers and other stakeholders on comprehensive federal rules. The organization supports consumer protection, limiting minors' access to psychoactive products, legal certainty for farmers and businesses, and preserving access to lawful hemp products.
Controversy surrounding the ban
Trump signed the ban last year as part of a broader spending bill passed to restore government operations after a record-long shutdown. It was due to take effect on November 12. The legislation closed the so-called “hemp loophole” that emerged after the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp from the list of controlled substances.
Some hardline Republicans in the House of Representatives opposed the temporary funding because of provisions added by the Senate, including the delay of the ban. At the same time, representatives of the marijuana industry also do not support the postponement. The American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp said that this loophole facilitates the activities of unscrupulous market participants, creates public health risks, and undermines regulation at the state level.
