Lack of US Farm Bill leaves states with hemp-derived THC chaos

Hemp-derived THC remains both a billion-dollar opportunity ideal for small businesses and a guarantee of serious trouble for state governments in 2025.As drastically different situations in California and Florida demonstrate, whether hemp is a golden opportunity or a huge risk all depends on where you live.

And the reality is changing by the day. ADVERTISEMENT On one hand, Gov.

Gavin Newsom’s announcement last week that businesses in the California market are almost totally compliant with a blanket ban on hemp-derived THC presents a dream scenario for many in the state’s $32 billion legal marijuana industry: Consumers are steered squarely toward licensed cannabis stores thanks to proactive government enforcement.The flip side is the situation in Florida, where, unlike last year, Republican Gov.

Ron DeSantis will not have to decide whether to sign or veto a bill that jeopardizes the state’s hemp industry, which could be worth more than $5 billion, according to a 2023 estimate.That’s because, the week before Newsom’s boasts, the Florida Legislature’s regular session ended May 2 without lawmakers passing either of two proposed intoxicating hemp regulatory bills that would have forced many current operators out of business.

‘Federal inaction’ causing state-level ‘battles’ Though hemp regulations are stalemated in Florida, industry operators in other states are anxiously awaiting the progress of bills that could curtail the industry.These include: Alabama.

Texas, the nation’s largest market for hemp-derived THC products.Ohio.

The scattershot situation is the result of Congress’ inability to pass a new Farm Bill or stand-alone legislation that addresses the “loophole” in the 2018 Farm Bill that’s led to the proliferation of intoxicating hemp-derived THC products across the country.Such products include hemp-derived beverages that many operators, including major marijuana multistat...