NEWS ALERT: Industry group slams Senate passage of hemp ban in funding bill

November 11, 2025

From the Washington Examiner: The hemp industry is railing against a provision in the Senate-passed funding bill that takes aim at the accessible sale of hemp-derived THC products.

On Monday, the Senate passed a funding bill that included a short-term continuing resolution to end the government shutdown as well as three longer-term funding bills for fiscal 2026. One of the funding bills focused on agriculture included a provision barring the unregulated sale of intoxicating hemp products in accessible places, like gas stations.

The Texas Hemp Business Council, an industry advocate, slammed the Senate for the move yesterday, pointing to its effects on hemp farmers.

“We are deeply disappointed by Congress’ passage of H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, with restrictive hemp provisions that will eliminate the nation’s $28 billion hemp economy,” the council said in a statement.

The council’s statement continues:

“By redefining hemp and imposing an unprecedented 0.4 mg total THC cap per container, Congress has effectively banned the vast majority of hemp-derived products that millions of adults and veterans have safely relied on since the 2018 Farm Bill.

“The consequences of this sweeping change are severe and immediate:

Farmers will lose critical markets.
Small businesses will be forced to close.
Consumers and veterans will turn to illegal markets.
State regulatory systems will be overridden.
More than 300,000 people will lose their jobs.

“We are particularly dismayed that the U.S. Senate failed to adopt Senator Rand Paul’s amendment to strike Section 781 from H.R. 5371. Senator Mitch McConnell’s testimony in opposition to the amendment reflected a complete disconnect from reality. His statements perpetuate long-debunked anti-hemp narratives and demonstrate how grossly out of touch some national leaders are with American sentiment. In contrast, Senator Ted Cruz stood not just for Texans, but for farmers, small businesses, veterans and consumers across the country.

“Now the industry is once again caught in the crossfire of a political showdown, with hemp serving as collateral damage. Congress had years to address the FDA’s regulatory failures, yet instead of crafting a science-based solution, a last-minute political deal put the entire sector at risk.

“History has shown that these kinds of restrictions can be stopped. We successfully fought similar harmful hemp bans during the 89th Texas Legislature and subsequent special sessions. We saw firsthand that bans do not work and the architects of those bans are now facing the political fallout of their actions.

“Hemp is too vital to the American economy and to the livelihoods of millions to be dismantled by rushed, politically driven legislation. As we proved in Texas, we will continue to pursue every legal and legislative option to overturn these harmful provisions and restore a fair, science-based system that continues to protect minors, ensure product safety and preserves the economic opportunities Congress created in 2018.”

.@SenMcConnell with nothing to lose in his final lap, quietly slips a hemp ban back into the funding bill.
Legacy move: torch a $28B industry, ax 300K+ jobs, fuel black markets, and tell veterans, farmers, & responsible adults to pound sand. Bold way to say “Big Pharma only.”… pic.twitter.com/qS4mKqsLpz

— Texas Hemp Business Council (@TexasHempBiz) November 9, 2025

Monday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) posted the following statement:

I have long believed that the regulation of hemp and marijuana products should rest with each individual state. Reasonable minds can disagree, and a blanket federal prohibition disempowers the voters in each of the fifty States. A one-size-fits-all federal standard will undoubtedly create unintended consequences that harm consumers.

There is a vital need to protect children by, at a minimum, requiring that purchasers be 21 and prohibiting synthetics and dangerous foreign imports marketed to kids. That’s the approach Governor Abbott has taken in Texas, and I urge other states to follow Texas’s example.

Tony Buzbee, a U.S. Marine officer, replied to Cruz, writing, “Hemp based. All natural. Low dose. This is a thriving, five billion dollar industry in Texas alone. This is a legitimate and safe alternative to alcohol. Many vets use it responsibly in drink form. Don’t let misinformation and the alcohol lobby kill this industry and strand our vets in one fell swoop! A ban on hemp based THC drinks is nothing but a F you to vets.”

Hemp based. All natural. Low dose. This is a thriving, five billion dollar industry in Texas alone. This is a legitimate and safe alternative to alcohol. Many vets use it responsibly in drink form. Don’t let misinformation and the alcohol lobby kill this industry and strand our… pic.twitter.com/PF5DOpoL1p

— Tony Buzbee (@TonyBuzbee2) November 11, 2025