Congress Agrees to Delay Federal Hemp Ban by One Month

The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted 370-48 to approve a bipartisan funding bill that contains language delaying the federal ban on most hemp cannabinoid products until December 11, The Hill reports.

The proposal was already approved by the Senate last month and is now heading to the president’s desk for his signature.

Hemp products that contain cannabinoids “not capable of being naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa L. plant” are not affected by the one-month delay and will become prohibited starting November 12.

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D), who originally introduced the legislation alongside Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), cheered the bipartisan approval as “good news for Minnesota’s farmers, brewers, small businesses, and customers.”

“The President should sign this bipartisan bill into law immediately. This delay will give Minnesota hemp’s producers, retailers, and customers certainty, and give Congress more time to get to a long-term fix.” — Klobuchar, in a statement

“This extension gives us one additional month, and we intend to make every day count,” the U.S. Hemp Roundtable said in a press release. “We will continue working with lawmakers and stakeholders to advance a comprehensive federal framework that protects consumers, prevents youth access to intoxicating products, provides certainty for farmers and businesses, and preserves access to lawful hemp products.”