Hemp industry faces regulatory challenges in Virginia and U.S. Senate

The hemp industry is facing significant regulatory shifts at both the state and federal levels. In Virginia, seven hemp businesses, including Nova Hemp & Agriculture and District Hemp Botanicals, have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. The plaintiffs are seeking to block new state restrictions set to take effect on August 15, which would eliminate an exception for products containing more than 2 milligrams of THC per package if they also contain at least 25 times as much CBD. Business owners argue these changes could lead to bankruptcy, layoffs, and the loss of existing inventory.

At the federal level, the U.S. Senate passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 11. This bill includes an extension of a moratorium on a hemp ban that would otherwise remove most hemp products from consumer shelves. Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, stated that the extension provides lawmakers more time to develop a regulatory framework for the $23 billion industry. The resolution now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives.