Bipartisan Bill Aims to Push Back Hemp Ban for Two Years

WASHINGTON – A group of lawmakers from both parties filed legislation seeking to push back a forthcoming federal prohibition on certain hemp-derived products until late 2028, offering the industry a brief reprieve to adjust operations.

The Hemp Planting Predictability Act, introduced by Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN), would revise a hemp ban provision tucked into last year’s bipartisan spending package. That measure sets a November 2026 deadline for sales of hemp-derived products containing more than 0.3% total THC, including synthetic cannabinoids like delta-8 THC. Baird’s proposal pushes that date to November 2028, replacing a one-year lead time with three years overall, while maintaining limits such as no more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per serving.

Co-sponsors include House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY), Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN), Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) and Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC). This mix of Republicans and one Democrat highlights unusual cooperation on an issue blending farm policy with consumer product rules. Baird, a former farmer himself, framed the bill as essential for advance planning: “Congress should not have passed such a sweeping policy change that upends a growing industry,” he said in a statement released Tuesday. Comer, a longtime hemp advocate from Kentucky, added that the delay offers “common-sense” adaptation time as lawmakers craft clearer rules.

From an industry standpoint, the proposal buys time but doesn’t resolve core tensions. Analytics project that an abrupt 2026 cutoff could idle up to 30% of processing facilities, with ripple effects on jobs in states like Kentucky and Colorado. Broader industry estimates put the total economic impact, including retail sales of intoxicating hemp-derived products, at up to $28 billion.

Yet, extending the timeline risks prolonging market confusion, as state laws vary wildly – some already enforce stricter THC caps, while others remain permissive. Critical observers note this as a stopgap: true stability demands congressional action on comprehensive Cannabis rescheduling, a prospect dimmed by the incoming administration’s mixed signals.

Baird’s bill serves as a pragmatic bridge in an otherwise fractured regulatory environment. It tempers immediate disruption for stakeholders while highlighting the need for data-driven federal guidelines that balance innovation with safety. If the bill is adopted, hemp operators should use these two years not just to adapt, but to advocate for enduring frameworks that sustain growth without the specter of sudden reversal.