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The House Committee on Agriculture has approved the 2026 Farm Bill, which currently declines to delay an upcoming federal ban on intoxicating hemp products scheduled for November 2026. While the bill aims to close the 2018 “loophole” by redefining hemp based on total THC content (including THCA), Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) argues that regulating finished consumer goods falls under the jurisdiction of the FDA and the Energy and Commerce Committee, not the Farm Bill.
Despite this, the legislation offers several concessions to farmers by focusing on industrial hemp production. It proposes lifting regulatory burdens for fiber and grain producers, allowing them to self-designate to reduce testing requirements and removing the 10-year felony ineligibility period for those growers. It also directs the USDA to expand the number of accredited testing laboratories by removing the strict requirement for DEA registration.
Efforts to delay the ban, led by Republican Rep. James Baird (IN) and Democrat Rep. Angie Craig (MN), emphasize that a sudden rollback would destabilize emerging markets and disrupt farmers who have already made long-term planting investments. While the amendment to delay the ban was withdrawn during the markup, these proponents continue to advocate for a comprehensive regulatory framework that protects consumers and children without triggering a “disruptive rollback” of the industry. Read the original article.
Referenced article written by Tony Lange. Published on March 5, 2026 by Cannabis Business Times.
