Washington’s War on Hemp Isn’t Paused by the Federal Shutdown

Update: November 10, 2025: Congress is advancing a spending bill that would effectively ban many hemp-derived products.

Senator Rand Paul has introduced an amendment to remove this language and protect lawful hemp businesses nationwide.

Industry members should contact their U.S. Senators now — enter your address to find your representatives and urge them to support the amendment.

Click this link to get there: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

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The Hidden Threat Inside a Federal Spending Bill

Congress is quietly advancing a funding package that could devastate America’s legal hemp industry. Buried in the FY 2026 Agriculture–FDA Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4121) is Section 759, a single paragraph that would rewrite the federal definition of hemp established under the 2018 Farm Bill.

If passed, the provision would change how hemp is measured. It would move from a delta-9 THC standard to a “total THC” standard that counts THCa as well as delta-9. According to a Congressional Research Service summary, that testing change could exclude many currently legal, consumable hemp products from the statutory definition of “hemp,” and subject them to controlled substance enforcement.

According to Whitney Economics, the hemp-derived cannabinoid sector supports more than 325,000 U.S. jobs. Eliminating compliant operators wouldn’t make Americans safer—it would push commerce into unregulated channels.

In short, it’s prohibition disguised as policy.

How You Can Help Right Now

Congress is negotiating this language today. Your voice can make a measurable difference.

1. Find your Senators and Representatives by clicking here.
2. Call and tell them to strike Section 759 from H.R. 4121.‍
3. Use this sample message:

“Please oppose Section 759 of H.R. 4121. This language would redefine hemp, destroy lawful small businesses, and collapse state-regulated markets. We support strong, science-based regulation—but prohibition is failed policy.”

A few personal calls and emails from industry professionals in every state can stall or remove this language before it becomes law.

Tennessee Readers: Your Voice Has Extra Weight

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Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which oversees this very spending bill and the language that includes Section 759.

The committee’s decision will shape the future of the entire hemp industry, and not just in Tennessee. The hemp sector nationwide has already proven its commitment to compliance, consumer safety, and responsible growth through multiple legislative victories, regulatory proceedings, and successful legal challenges since the 2018 Farm Bill.

If you live in a state represented by a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, now is the time to reach out. Tennesseans, that includes Senator Hagerty. Urge him — and the committee as a whole — to oppose Section 759 and support measured industry regulation.

→ Find Your Senators and Representatives‍

→ Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee

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$70 Billion Claim? Let’s Be Clear

Some advocacy headlines have cited figures as high as the low-to-mid tens of billions or higher when describing total economic impact. To be precise: estimates differ by methodology. Whitney Economics (2023) places consumer demand for hemp-derived cannabinoids at roughly $28 billion and estimates an overall economic impact that can reach the high-tens of billions. The exact top line number depends on whether the author counts retail demand, wage impacts, or the ripple effects across related industries. The crucial point isn’t the dollar amount—it’s that hundreds of thousands of Americans depend on this market for their livelihoods.

What the Industry Is Actually Asking For

Stakeholders across the supply chain agree on a path forward:

• ‍Keep the 2018 Farm Bill definition intact.
• Implement comprehensive oversight on manufacturing, labeling, potency, age limits, and safety testing.‍
• Recognize existing state programs that fill the FDA’s regulatory gap.‍
• Support American-grown hemp across textiles, food, health, and innovation.

Measured oversight, not eradication, is the goal.

Why This Isn’t About Politics

This issue crosses party lines. Republican Senator Rand Paul has already placed a hold on the spending bill until Section 759 is removed, warning that the proposal would cripple the industry rather than fix its regulatory gray area. Farmers, processors, veterans, and state regulators agree: eliminating compliant operators won’t make America safer; it’ll just drive commerce underground.

The Bottom Line

The 2018 Farm Bill sparked an American success story with hundreds of thousands of jobs, billions in revenue, and a regulated, transparent industry. Section 759 would erase that progress overnight.

The fix is simple: speak up now.‍

Tell Congress that hemp deserves smart, science-based oversight and not another back-door ban.

How Hemp Law Group Can Help

Hemp Law Group works with farmers, processors, manufacturers, retailers, and trade associations across the United States to navigate hemp and cannabis regulation. Our team advises clients on compliance strategy, product labeling and testing, FDA and state oversight, and legislative engagement.

When Washington shifts the rules, or threatens to rewrite them, we help businesses stay compliant, minimize risk, and make their voices heard.

If your operation could be affected by Section 759 or other upcoming federal changes, our attorneys and compliance professionals are ready to review your situation and develop a tailored plan.

→ Schedule a free 15-minute phone call with Compliance Director Clint Palmer today.