Hemp Leaders Meet in Washington Over Federal Ban
The U.S. hemp industry is heading into its most critical moment since legalization in 2018. In this episode of Trade To Black, presented by Flowhub, host Shadd Dales and Anthony Varrell were joined by Thomas Winstanley of edibles.com following his recent trip to Washington, where hemp industry leaders met with lawmakers to address sweeping federal changes set to take effect in November 2026. At the center of the discussion is the newly passed federal hemp definition tied to the FY2026 Agriculture Appropriations Act, which effectively bans the majority of intoxicating hemp products by imposing strict total THC limits. The implications are significant—potentially impacting billions in retail sales, hundreds of thousands of jobs, and the future structure of cannabinoid-based consumer products in the U.S.
Cannabis equities posted a welcome green day, with MSOX rebounding roughly 25% after a steep decline the session prior. The hosts also confirmed that the Texas hemp ban officially went into effect. We’ll also discuss British American Tobacco’s decision to convert its debenture into Charlotte’s Web common shares while adding another $10 million — bringing its ownership stake to approximately 40%.
A lawsuit was filed by SAM seeking to block the Trump administration’s hemp-derived CBD and THC Medicare coverage pilot, arguing the program bypassed standard administrative procedures including a public comment period and involves substances lacking FDA approval. The filing provides a useful preview of the arguments SAM is likely to deploy if and when rescheduling is finalized.
Thomas Wen Stanley, co-founder of edibles.com, joined the show to debrief on a lobbying trip to Washington the previous week alongside other hemp industry leaders. He described a Congress that is fatigued by conflicting messages from a fractured hemp industry but remains genuinely open to finding a solution, with multiple bills — some public, some still in draft — currently in circulation. Stanley stressed that lawmakers repeatedly told visiting groups they do not view the current ban as the right answer, but have yet to receive a compelling alternative framework to rally around.
This episode breaks down what’s actually in the legislation, why Congress moved in this direction following the 2018 Farm Bill loophole, and how states are already responding with their own restrictions and enforcement actions. Thomas provides insight into what was discussed behind closed doors in Washington, including efforts to delay implementation, protect full-spectrum CBD, and push for a regulated framework instead of prohibition. With the clock ticking toward November 2026, this is a pivotal moment that could reshape the entire hemp and cannabis landscape in the United States.
