What Next?
What’s Happening Now
I’ve pulled together the latest reporting on how the hemp industry and its allies are responding to the new federal “hemp‑derived THC” ban that was tacked onto the recent spending bill.
What’s happening on the ground
1. A coordinated lobbying push – The U.S. Hemp Roundtable and dozens of hemp‑industry trade groups have announced a “365‑day‑to‑regulate” campaign. They are mobilizing members, hiring lobbyists and launching a grassroots outreach effort aimed at persuading Congress to replace the ban with a clear federal regulatory framework thehill.com .
2. Draft regulatory legislation – Rep. Morgan Griffith (R‑VA) has circulated a draft bill that would create a detailed regulatory scheme for hemp‑derived products, set specific milligram thresholds, require labeling and add a new chapter to the Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act giving the FDA explicit authority thehill.com . The industry is urging lawmakers to introduce that bill before the one‑year “kill‑date” arrives.
3. Senator‑level opposition – Sen. Rand Paul (R‑KY) mounted a last‑minute amendment in the Senate to strip the THC‑ban language from the funding bill, warning that it would “kill an entire industry.” Although the amendment was defeated, Paul has said he will continue to press for a repeal houstonchronicle.com .
4. Veterans & consumer‑advocacy groups – Texas veterans’ groups (VFW, VFW of the U.S.) have drafted a letter to congressional leaders urging them to keep “solid scientific research” on THC products and to consider a more nuanced, regulatory approach rather than an outright ban expressnews.com .
5. State‑level pressure – More than 30 state attorneys general signed a letter supporting the ban, but a parallel coalition of state‑level hemp growers and business councils (e.g., the Texas Hemp Business Council) is preparing legal and political challenges, arguing the ban would devastate state tax revenues and jobs axios.com , thehill.com .
6. FDA timeline as a leverage point – The law gives the FDA 90 days to publish a list of prohibited natural and synthetic cannabinoids and define what counts as a “container.” Industry groups are using that window to push for a science‑based rulemaking rather than a blanket prohibition thehill.com .
Bottom line: While the ban is now law, the hemp sector is actively lobbying, drafting replacement legislation, pressuring key senators, and mobilizing consumer‑ and veteran‑advocacy groups to force Congress to either repeal the ban or replace it with a regulated framework before the one‑year effective date.