Senators to Deliberate Hemp Ban Delay
When Congress resumes after its August break, a significant matter awaits House Republicans. They must decide on stopgap funding legislation while dealing with hemp regulations that nearly stalled the Senate.
The funding bill aims to delay a ban on most hemp-derived THC products by a month, moving the date to December 11. House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris of Maryland opposes this provision. Although Harris has not confirmed whether he will vote against the resolution, he intends to challenge it.
In an interview with a Baltimore Fox affiliate, Harris expressed concerns over unregulated “gas station weed” sold in stores. He argues these products are closer to marijuana than hemp and criticizes the federal government for failing to oversee them effectively. As the head of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Harris, along with Senator Mitch McConnell, was instrumental in last year’s legislation initiating the ban.
The White House prioritized inserting language to delay the ban into the Senate’s bill. This postponement is seen by hemp industry groups as a victory, providing more time to push for regulation over prohibition.
The Senate previously faced conflict over the one-month delay but ultimately moved forward. A motion to remove the delay provision was tabled in a 61-32 vote, with bipartisan opposition from 21 Republicans and 11 Democrats. Still, GOP senators plan further efforts in the coming months to maintain the ban. The current funding bill extends until December 11, with the White House indicating no further delay requests.
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