What You Need To Know About The Hemp Ban & How You Can Help

What You Need To Know About The Hemp Ban & How You Can Help

As many of you may already know, there was a last minute provision added to the bill to reopen the government that would essentially ban and re-criminalize most hemp products. We want to give you more information about this ban, as well as ask for your support in helping keep hemp lawful and safe. 

First, let’s go back to 2018 with the passing of the Farm Bill. It is the 2018 Farm Bill that made THCa legal, defining lawful hemp as any hemp product containing less than 0.3% delta-9 on a dry weight basis. 

Now with the 2026 Agricultural Appropriations Bill, most hemp products as we know them will become illegal - including nonintoxicating cannabinoids such as CBD, CBG, and CBN. 

The current spending bill, signed by the president and approved through January 30th, has revised the definition of hemp to specifically exclude:

• Cannabinoids not naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa L. plant.

• Naturally occurring cannabinoids that are synthesized or manufactured outside the plant (like delta-8 and delta-10 THC derived from CBD isolate).

• Any product with over 0.3% combined total THC (including delta-9 THC, THCa, and other specified cannabinoids) on a dry-weight basis.

• Any final product container holding more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC, irrespective of the dry weight percentage.

If implemented, this ban will have devastating and far-reaching effects all across America. Hemp is a $28-billion industry and hundreds of thousands of jobs are on the line - from farmers, to manufacturers, to retailers like us. 

Some key points we’d like for you to be aware of are the legalities and the opportunities to make change over the upcoming weeks. First, know that there is no immediate legal change. The new law has not yet gone into effect, so what was legal before this bill remains legal at this time. 

Second, this spending bill creates a window of opportunity until January 30th. However, this is an opportunity for both sides to create change - those who want hemp banned as well as those of us who want it to remain safe and legal. 

On a positive note, there are several politicians who are actively trying to undo the restrictive language of this new bill. Also, there is a one year implementation period for the bill - meaning that a lot can change in a year. We have high hopes that the hemp industry will prevail as we ban together to advocate for reasonable regulations in lieu of a total ban. 

You may wonder what’s going on for us at WNC? We are optimistic and moving forward full steam ahead! Uncertainty can feel scary, but we’ve got this. If Covid and Hurricane Helene taught us anything, it is that we really don’t have control of our future, and this is just another one of those examples. For those of you with us during the hurricane, you know first hand that when we were in a real crisis and didn’t know what would happen, we did everything we could possibly do to get operational again and take care of our people through it, and this will be the same.

Change is the only constant, and adaptability is needed in the cannabis industry. We are here because we believe in the amazing properties of this plant and that it is a safer alternative to alcohol and pharmaceuticals. Here at WNC we believe in the culture that we’ve created: A love for high quality cannabis and the good that companies can do in their communities. 

We’ve faced adversity before and we are stronger for it. The future is not certain, but let’s move forward with confidence. We are resilient, capable, and we’re not done yet. And when this industry settles again, there will be two types of companies: Those who gave up when things changed, and those who adapted and took the lead. We already know which group WNC belongs to.

We consider you part of our community and we appreciate the outpouring of support that you have shown us. You may be wondering what you can do to help. We encourage you to be proactive - this is paramount right now! Find out who your representatives are. You can do this by entering your zip code at congress.gov. 

Reach out to your state and federal representatives in the house and senate. Personalized emails and calls are key. Tell them about the small hemp businesses that are reliable and safe. Tell them how these products have helped you and your family. Urge them to retain the current definition of hemp that exists under the 2018 Farm Bill. 

You can find more information here: https://cannabusiness.law/articles/ 

We believe everyone deserves access to safe and lawful hemp, thank you for your support!