On November 12, 2025, President Trump signed a government funding bill ending the longest U.S. shutdown in history, but it included a stealth provision that could devastate the hemp sector. Tucked into the legislation, this amendment redefines legal hemp, banning most intoxicating products and closing a loophole from the 2018 Farm Bill that fueled a $28 billion market.
The provision outlaws synthetic cannabinoids and caps total THC at 0.4 milligrams per package—a level so low it effectively prohibits popular items like delta-8 THC gummies, THCA vapes, edibles, beverages, and even many full-spectrum CBD products with trace THC. Non-intoxicating uses, such as industrial hemp fiber or THC-free CBD isolates, remain viable, but the broader industry faces an “extinction-level event.” Enforcement begins after a 365-day grace period, delaying full impact until November 2026.
This targets “intoxicating” variants, including over 40 compounds like CBN, CBG, and HHC, which have proliferated in unregulated markets. Proponents, including Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and 39 state attorneys general, argue it protects consumers—especially children—from untested products causing poisonings. Critics, however, see it as overreach driven by Big Alcohol and regulated cannabis lobbies viewing hemp as competition.
