“We’re going to have to look at how we might regulate” hemp “now that we see that the federal government is limiting it.”
By Brenden Moore, Capital News Illinois
Tucked into the spending legislation approved by Congress this week was a provision banning the sale of intoxicating hemp products—a move that could upend an industry with annual sales now into the billions.
Hemp was federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, which defined it as a plant with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC. But the law didn’t account for total THC or other cannabinoids, creating a loophole that allowed companies to use compounds like delta-8 to make products with marijuana-like intoxicating effects. As a result, hemp-derived intoxicants have proliferated in gas stations, corner stores and other places with little to no regulation.
An amendment seeking to remove the language from the larger bill, proposed by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, was rejected in a 76-24 vote. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) voted with the majority.
Durbin said the hemp language was proposed by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky.
“Throughout my career, I’ve tried my best to protect children,” Durbin said. “He asked for further regulation of the industry
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