Hemp has become a major industry across the country, but a law set to take effect in November could see most hemp-based products banned. A number of legislators are fighting to keep things like THC drinks and CBD oil on the shelves, but no meaningful progress has been made. Now, the Trump administration is again urging Congress to act.
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The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memo outlining the administration’s position on an agricultural spending bill moving through Congress. The OMB helps implement the president’s policy agenda, and the memo indicates hemp policy remains a priority.
“The Administration welcomes the opportunity to work with the Congress to, at a minimum, update the statutory definition of final hemp-derived cannabinoid products to allow Americans to benefit from access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products,” the memo notes.
The White House has also supported efforts to expand access to CBD products. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently launched a pilot program that allows certain patients to receive CBD products from participating healthcare providers at no cost.
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President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on Congress to preserve access to CBD products. However, he has stopped short of calling for the broad legalization of cannabis or intoxicating hemp products like THC drinks.
“I am calling on Congress to update the Law to ensure that Americans can continue to access the full-spectrum CBD products they have come to rely on, and that help them, while preserving Congress’s intent to restrict the sale of products that pose Health risks,” said a post from Trump’s Truth Social account. “We must get this done RIGHT and FAST, especially for those who saw that CBD helps them.”
Despite pressure from the administration and hemp industry advocates, Congress has yet to advance legislation that would protect many hemp-derived products from the proposed restrictions. With only a few months remaining before the restrictions are scheduled to take effect, it remains unclear whether Congress will act.
