President Donald Trump is urging Senate Republicans to delay a federal hemp ban he signed into law, personally calling one senator as the White House pushes for broader cannabis reform.
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According to Axios, Trump phoned Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) to explain why his administration is in favor of a proposed delay to the so-called hemp ban. Trump reportedly explained the White House is working on updates to federal cannabis policy and the November ban could “complicate” their plans.
Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee released a continuing resolution to extend government funding. It includes a provision delaying the hemp ban by one month. Sen. Budd has filed an amendment to remove that provision.
Advocates argue this short period could be enough to get meaningful hemp regulation legislation passed by Congress.
Trump has repeatedly called on lawmakers to address the hemp conundrum. The administration also implemented a pilot program with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand access to CBD products to older adults, which could be in jeopardy if the ban takes effect.
Hemp has driven a wedge between the president and some fellow Republicans. Axios reported that several senators have co-sponsored Budd’s amendment and that a closed-door meeting with White House liaison James Braid this week ended in what participants described as a “blowup” over the issue.
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Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who supports regulating the hemp market rather than banning it, pushed back on his colleagues’ prohibitionist views in a recent interview.
“It’s like they watched ‘Reefer Madness’ in 1937, and they believe the whole world’s gonna be hooked on marijuana,” Paul said.
Trump’s support for delaying the hemp ban also drew scrutiny this week after reports that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ son-in-law owns a hemp company that could benefit if the ban is postponed. Neither Trump nor the White House has indicated that the relationship influenced the administration’s position.
Despite the political debate, the hemp industry remains a significant part of the U.S. economy, generating millions of dollars in revenue and supporting thousands of jobs.
Despite the debate, the hemp industry occupies a major space in the U.S. economy, driving millions in revenue and supporting thousands of jobs. Whether the industry faces a major shake-up this fall or receives a temporary reprieve now depends on Congress and the White House.
