Senate Votes to Delay Federal Hemp THC Product Ban

The United States Senate voted 61-32 on Saturday to table an amendment that would have accelerated a federal ban on hemp THC products. The decision preserves a delay within the government funding resolution, moving the prohibition start date from November 12 to December 11.

Lawmakers intend for this window to provide time to establish a regulatory framework for the $28 billion hemp industry rather than implementing an outright ban on products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC. Senator Amy Klobuchar supported the delay to protect small businesses and farmers, while Senator Ted Budd opposed the move, characterizing the products as dangerous intoxicants marketed toward children.

Industry leaders, including representatives from the Hemp Beverage Alliance and CANN, welcomed the vote as a step toward a permanent regulatory system involving age restrictions and potency caps. The measure now moves to the House of Representatives, where it must pass in September to be finalized.