The U.S. House of Representatives voted 224-200 on Tuesday to pass the federal Farm Bill, which contains some hemp-related provisions but excludes language to delay or change the expected federal changes to hemp-derived THC this November, The reports.
The U.S. first legalized industrial hemp via the 2018 Farm Bill, which was passed during President Trump’s first term. The initial legalization language covered the hemp plant and all of its derivatives, so long as the crop contained less than 0.3% THC. The changes allowed for a national gray market for hemp-derived cannabinoids, which quickly grew into a multi-billion-dollar industry as operators established methods of converting hemp-derived CBD into delta-8 THC and other intoxicating cannabinoids.
But the industry was plunged into uncertainty last year when President Trump signed a spending bill containing language to shut down the sale of intoxicating hemp products nationwide.
The hemp provisions in the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 seek to clarify regulations and reduce the burdens facing industrial hemp farmers in the U.S, according to the report.
The Farm Bill moves next to the Senate for consideration, where advocates hope lawmakers will propose protections for the sunsetting hemp industry.
If Congress does not pass any changes or exceptions to the rules, the current hemp cannabinoids industry will effectively end on November 12, 2026.
