The Senator Who Legalized Consumable Hemp Now Wants to Ban It

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), once hailed as the architect of federal hemp legalization under the 2018 Farm Bill, is now backing efforts that could dismantle the very market he helped create.

Industry insiders say McConnell is behind new language being added to this week’s agriculture spending package that would outlaw consumable hemp products containing measurable levels of THC—effectively targeting popular cannabinoid products like delta-8 and even many forms of CBD.

While the proposed legislative text has yet to be made public, sources familiar with the matter say it mirrors the controversial provisions already passed by the House Appropriations Committee, spearheaded by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), a longtime opponent of cannabis reform. That version would ban all products containing THC—even trace amounts—raising alarms across the hemp industry.

The move appears aimed at closing what some lawmakers describe as a “loophole” in the original Farm Bill, which allowed the rise of unregulated, intoxicating hemp derivatives. But advocates argue the new restrictions would go far beyond curbing delta-8, and could effectively outlaw nearly all hemp-derived consumables, including non-intoxicating CBD products, which often contain trace THC due to natural extraction processes.

McConnell, who previously championed hemp as a major agricultural opportunity for Kentucky farmers, seems eager to revise that legacy by cracking down on what he views as unintended consequences.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has voiced strong opposition, warning that the proposed restrictions could “completely destroy the American hemp industry.”

The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to take up the measure this Thursday, and cannabis stakeholders are working urgently to propose amendments before it moves forward. (McConnell: main picture)