Efforts to stall an impending federal hemp ban scored a victory in Congress. The House of Representatives passed a spending bill that includes a 30-day extension of the ban, which advocates believe is enough time to pass regulation.
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The House voted in favor of the Continuing Resolution 370-48, sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk. The Senate passed the legislation last month.
Trump signed a government funding bill in 2025 that included a provision to change the federal definition of hemp from 0.3 percent THC by dry weight to 0.4 milligrams of THC per package. This change, now set to take effect December 11, would render many hemp products illegal, such as THC drinks and full-spectrum CBD oil.
Advocates believe the 30-day delay could increase the chances of broader hemp legislation passing. Congress often uses its post-election “lame duck” session to wrap unfinished business into year-end spending bills, creating another opportunity for hemp regulation to become law.
Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, told GreenState the battle may have been won but the war is far from over.
“We’re thrilled about the strong bipartisan support for an extension, but the hard work is ahead,” Miller said via text. “We look forward to working with the President and Congress on developing a robust regulatory framework to crack down on bad actors while preserving safe and healthy hemp and CBD products for adults.”
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Several bills are circulating in Congress aimed at regulating the hemp market. One of the most recent, dubbed the Beverage Parity Act, would create a three-tier system similar to alcohol to regulate THC drinks. Several alcohol trade groups are lobbying for the bill, along with many hemp industry groups.
“Alcohol has the existing distribution and infrastructure channels to continue what is a booming beverage industry,” explained John Dugas, owner of Superior Molecular, a manufacturer of hemp emulsion for THC drinks. “They’ve already invested heavily in the category and proved the model works.”
While it’s unclear whether any hemp-related bills will pass by December 11, advocates remain hopeful.
