Politics

Brouhaha Over Hemp Ban Delay Could Cause Major Funding Bill To Go Up In Smoke

A marijuana plant. (Screen Capture/PBS NewsHour)

A bipartisan push to stop a delay in banning hemp THC products could prevent a continuing resolution (CR) from passing in the Senate.

The Senate’s version of the CR would delay a hemp ban set to take place on Nov. 12 and push the effective date to Dec. 11. Republican North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd introduced an amendment to strip the provision, although the White House requested the delay.

Budd’s amendment to strip the language would likely pass. The CR would fund the government through Dec. 11.

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable said passing the CR would be a “landmark victory for the hemp industry” and the biggest victory since the 2018 farm bill legalized it, The Hill reported. A law passed in 2025 removed hemp from the controlled substances list and limited legal hemp products to 0.4 milligrams per container of total THC.

Hemp industry groups argued the provision would give them more time to convince lawmakers to regulate their products. Industry advocates argued an immediate ban would devastate thousands of small businesses, retailers and farmers.

State attorneys general urged Congress to reject any efforts to delay a hemp ban, prompting Budd to push for his amendment.

“Before the Senate adjourns, we must pass the SAVE America Act, confirm @POTUS‘s outstanding noms, & fund the [government],” Budd said Monday. “I’m offering an amendment to the CR to strip out an extension of the hemp loophole to ensure unregulated, dangerous intoxicants are not sold, especially to kids.”

Bret Worley, CEO of MC Nutraceuticals, married White House chief of staff Susie Wiles’ daughter, Caroline, in June. The delay would directly benefit him and his business, according to NBC News.

In a letter to Congress, Republican Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and 34 other attorneys general argued a delay would allow the hemp industry to create a loophole and continue profiting from unrelated products that mimic marijuana.

The House passed its own version of the CR that did not include any provisions to change the planned hemp product ban.

The Senate plans to leave for a month-long summer recess Thursday, though they still have the CR, a Russian sanctions bill, a cryptocurrency bill and the confirmations of nominees, including acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee and 17 other Republicans said they would object to the recess to pass the Safeguard America Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act and other pieces of legislation.