Congress Proposes Hemp Regulation Instead of THC Ban
On this episode of Trade To Black presented by Flowhub, hosts Shadd Dales and Anthony Varrell are joined by Michael Bronstein, President of ATACH, to break down what could be a key inflection point for U.S. cannabis regulation and hemp policy. They dig into a bipartisan hemp bill introduced by Rep. Morgan Griffith and what it could mean for intoxicating hemp-derived products like Delta-8, Delta-10, THCA, and hemp-derived THC beverages.
While some industry insiders believe a hemp extension could push regulations back to 2028, there’s skepticism about the current administration allowing intoxicating products to remain on the market that long. Guest Michael Bronstein joined to provide deeper analysis on the bill’s viability and what the industry can realistically expect in terms of regulation timelines. The discussion looks at how lawmakers are approaching regulation, consumer safety, enforcement, labeling, and potency limits — and whether Washington is finally moving toward clearer rules for the hemp market.
Hemp extension faces significant hurdles in Congress. Despite expectations that extension language would be included in the continuing resolution, it failed to materialize. The proposed bill has only twenty co-sponsors compared to SAFE Banking’s nearly two hundred, suggesting it may have limited support. The hemp industry is experiencing internal division, with low-dose beverage and edible companies distancing themselves from synthetic THC producers. This bifurcation makes it difficult to present a unified ask to Congress, and without consensus, any regulatory framework becomes increasingly challenging to pass.
As the conversation shifted to cannabis rescheduling timelines, we should bear in mind that the DEA must complete its internal review of the executive order signed in December. Bronstein cautions against expecting immediate action. Proper procedures require reviewing submitted comments, resolving pending legal proceedings, and drafting the final rule.
A three-to-four-month timeline is probably the most realistic, Bronstein suggests. Despite chaos in the federal government, Bronstein expressed confidence that the Department of Justice can handle their multiple priorities. The episode also looks at the ripple effects across the industry. How would tighter rules impact state-licensed cannabis operators, MSOs, CBD brands, and retailers? Where does this leave the balance between federally legal hemp and regulated cannabis, especially if enforcement starts to tighten?
The conversation then shifts to Florida, with an update on signature collection for the state’s adult-use cannabis ballot initiative. Plus, we get the latest on signature collection for Florida’s adult-use cannabis ballot initiative.
