The federal ban on hemp will be postponed until December, according to a new government funding bill that was passed on Sept. 2. In August, the Senate also voted to delay the ban; in part due to concerns about economic consequences for farmers and small-business owners. As reported by Whitney Economics, more than 325,000 jobs have been created by the hemp industry, a business that was bolstered by the 2018 Farm Bill which legalized the production and sale of hemp-derived products. This led to a vast increase in the availability of hemp-derived products, such as gummies, beverages and pre-rolls, spurring concerns about access and regulatory practices. Groups like Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) view the legalization of hemp as a danger to children, and have advocated for repealing the legalization of hemp. 

But eight years later, the hemp industry is facing a new threat. After the delayed passage of the 2025 funding bill, it was announced that hemp would be reclassified as a controlled substance in November 2026. But in early September, the House passed a short-term funding bill that delayed the incoming ban until Dec. 11. The bill was signed into law by President Trump. 

Advocates for the hemp industry, such as the Hemp Beverage Alliance, are hopeful that the delay will allow for legal negotiations to take place. “The hemp beverage industry looks forward to working with Congress to create a regulatory framework that protects public health, keeps products away from minors, and permanently removes the bad actors that sell untested, high-potency, copycat gummies and candies that target children,” Christopher Lackner, founder and president of the Hemp Beverage Alliance, said in a recent press release. 

But opposing groups, like SAM, will also remain involved. “We beat this industry once, and we’ll do it again. SAM will work with lawmakers in both parties to stop Big Hemp and get this ban across the finish line in December,” SAM CEO Kevin A. Sabet said in a press release. 

Synthetic cannabinoids will remain banned. CBD products and low-dose THC products derived from hemp will remain legal.