Federal Crackdown On Hemp-Derived THC, Cannabinoids Advances In Congress, Industry Warns Of Collapse
A key House committee has advanced a federal spending bill that could effectively ban most hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including THCA flower, delta-8 THC and even full-spectrum CBD, by redefining hemp and limiting its legal uses.
As reported by Marijuana Moment, the measure was approved Thursday in a 9-7 vote by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, with support from Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), the subcommittee chair. It now moves to the full House Appropriations Committee for markup on June 11.
Redefining Hemp, Banning Cannabinoids
The 138-page fiscal year 2026 bill proposes a revised definition of hemp that would prohibit any product containing:
- A “quantifiable” amount of THC or THCA
- Cannabinoids with effects “similar to THC,” or marketed as such (e.g., delta-10, THCP)
- Cannabinoids synthesized or manufactured outside the plant
The bill narrows hemp’s federally legal applications to industrial outputs such as fiber, grain, oil, nut, microgreens and certain edible leaves, not common cannabinoid products.
An apparent carve-out remains for FDA-approved cannabinoid drugs like Epidiolex.
“[The legislation] closes the hemp loophole from the 2018 Farm Bill that has resulted in the proliferation of intoxicating cannabinoid products,” Harris said.
He added that unregulated hemp-derived …