US House passes bill to delay hemp THC ban

A provision within the FY2026 Agriculture Appropriations Act proposes a significant redefinition of hemp that could impact the CBD industry. The proposed change would ban any hemp-derived product containing any quantifiable amount of THC, effectively prohibiting full-spectrum CBD products that naturally contain trace amounts of Delta-9 THC. Under the current 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived products are legal if they contain up to 0.3% Delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis.

In response to these regulatory shifts, the U.S. House passed a measure with a 370-48 vote to delay the implementation of the federal hemp THC ban. The delay moves the effective date from November 12 to December 11 as part of a continuing resolution. This extension provides a one-month window for industry stakeholders to advocate for a regulatory framework that preserves interstate commerce for low-dose hemp THC beverages and full-spectrum products.

While the extension applies to natural hemp derivatives, it does not cover synthetic cannabinoids, which remain federally illegal. Industry representatives note that the one-month extension is a modest victory intended to allow for further legislative work following the election.