Trump now wants Congress to undo part of the hemp ban he signed
President Trump is calling on Congress to reverse the ban on hemp-derived intoxicants that lawmakers enacted last year to preserve access to CBD.
The ban is not expected to take effect until November, a year after gaining authorization from Congress as part of a government funding program.
The provision prohibits products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC, a psychoactive compound in cannabis, per container.
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis but may contain trace amounts of THC – called full-spectrum CBD.
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The new law would ban many full-spectrum CBD products, including topicals like oils and lotions, as well as edibles like gummies, which are commonly used for pain relief.
Mr. Trump signed the law but issued an executive order a month later calling for research and innovation on hemp-derived CBD.
Today, the President is calling on Congress to change the law to preserve Americans’ access to “full-spectrum CBD products.”
Mr. Trump said in a Truth Social article that one in five adults have used CBD products in the past year, “and many say it has dramatically improved their chronic pain.”
He said Congress could update the law to allow CBD products containing traces of THC, while maintaining a ban on other hemp-derived products that pose health risks.
“We need to do this right and FAST, especially for those who have seen CBD help them,” Mr. Trump said. “Plus, I’m told this will also help our BIG FARMERS, who we love, and who will always be there for them. Please do it, and SOON.”
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Hemp Industry & Farmers of America Executive Director Brian Swensen applauded the president’s message, saying that, combined with his December executive order, “it sent an unequivocal message: Hemp is a legitimate American industry that deserves protection.”
Swensen added, “HIFA will continue to work with its team and Congress to ensure this message translates into lasting bipartisan policy to protect more than 475,000 jobs. »
Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, successfully legalized hemp in 2018, removing it from the list of controlled substances and reclassifying it as an agricultural product.
Mr. McConnell’s state is a leading producer of hemp and his goal was to increase its use in industrial products. But the 2018 law’s definition of hemp as cannabis containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC created a loophole that gave rise to intoxicating and synthetic hemp-derived products that remained below that threshold.
The law update championed by Mr. McConnell maintained the 0.3 percent THC limit for field hemp plants, but strengthened it for hemp-derived products to limit THC content to no more than 0.4 milligrams per package or container.
The Washington Times contacted Mr. McConnell’s office for comment on Mr. Trump’s desire to change the law to preserve access to full-spectrum CBD products.
Fellow Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul opposed the ban on intoxicating hemp last year, warning that it would effectively kill the hemp industry.
On Monday, Mr. Paul introduced legislation allowing states and tribal governments to circumvent the federal ban if they regulate hemp-derived products with a minimum age of purchase and bans on synthetic cannabinoids.
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“Half of states already have their own smart rules, THC limits, age restrictions and safety standards in place that allow hemp farmers to grow, manufacturers to innovate and consumers to stay safe,” Paul said. “Washington should not undo these efforts or destroy jobs and access to products that help our veterans, seniors and their families across the country.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democratic co-sponsor of the legislation, said her home state of Minnesota is a national leader in hemp products and states should be able to self-regulate consumer safety.
“I heard loud and clear from Minnesota brewers, farmers and small businesses: A federal ban on hemp products will be devastating,” she said.
