Intoxicating hemp industry seeks rescue in Congress as ban looms
Source: The Hill
06/07/26 6:00 AM ET
The intoxicating hemp industry and its allies are quickly running out of time to convince Congress to delay or stop a looming ban on their products. Without action, a ban on hemp-derived intoxicants will take effect in November. There’s bipartisan interest in disrupting the ban — which was championed by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and included the last fall’s government funding bill — including from his likely successor, Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.).
But McConnell has made keeping the ban akin to a legacy issue, and any effort to delay or change it this year will need to go through him. “Given that if Mitch is actively leaning on people not to do anything, my guess is the votes don’t move significantly,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told the Hemp Industry & Farmers of America (HIFA) recently, according to a transcript of the call seen by The Hill.
McConnell wants hemp to remain an agricultural product, rather than the synthetic marijuana version in the beverages, vapes and gummies that have become ubiquitous in gas stations, smoke shops and convenience stores.
Cruz was the only other Republican to vote for an amendment sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) last fall that would have stripped the hemp language. Cruz said he thinks any solution likely won’t happen until McConnell retires at the end of the year.
Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5912845-hemp-derived-intoxicants-congress/
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Particularly in KY, Mitch! Is there a difference? Oh, hell no. 
