Congress Quietly Moves to Ban Hemp
The TDR Trade To Black Podcast, presented by Dutchie, breaks down the new federal language buried inside the FY2026 government funding bill in front of Congress that would ban all consumable hemp products containing any “quantifiable amount of THC.” That means Delta-8, Delta-10, THC-P, and even full-spectrum CBD could all disappear with one vote.
Hosts Shadd Dales and Anthony Varrell tackle breaking developments as Congress moves closer to banning intoxicating hemp products nationwide. They’re joined by Michael Bronstein, President of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, to discuss the implications of new legislative language tied to the government funding bill. We also do an analysis of Village Farms’ latest earnings—a record-breaking quarter with net sales of $66.7 million and operating cash flow of $24.4 million.
The new bill—if passed without Senator Rand Paul’s amendment—would effectively ban intoxicating hemp products within a year. While this is seen as a win for state-regulated cannabis markets, it could devastate many small hemp businesses and consumers who rely on therapeutic cannabinoids, particularly in non-legal states like Texas and North Carolina.
Senate support for the bill is strong, with backing from figures like Senator Susan Collins and even President Trump. The bill’s language aims to create three distinct regulatory lanes—separating intoxicating from non-intoxicating, synthetic from natural, and industrial from consumer hemp products.
While many in the cannabis space support a cleanup of the unregulated market, the blanket ban has drawn criticism for its overreach. Legitimate operators like Seventh Hill CBD voiced concerns that responsible hemp businesses are being punished alongside bad actors. The influence of the liquor lobby, especially in states like Kentucky, was cited as a driving force behind Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s support.
Looking ahead, the bill must pass the House, where similar language already exists in appropriations legislation. If enacted, companies will have 12 months to comply, prompting many to consider flipping to state-regulated cannabis markets.
