After the recent Senate vote, it appears that intoxicating products made from hemp are in danger of disappearing in America.
We reported yesterday that a clause in the funding agreement being considered by the US Government to open it again contained language which would prohibit the sale unregulated of hemp products containing THC delta-8.
Kentucky Republican Rand Paul has filed an amendement in order to eliminate the language, before the bill can be cleared by the Senate.
Senators then voted, and the amendment was defeated by 76-24. The amendment also appeared President Donald Trump supports Include the language banning intoxicating cannabis.
Now, what?
It is still necessary to pass the broader spending bill legislation. This would put an end to the shutdown of the federal government, now in its sixth week, and all the chaos it has caused.
Senator Paul, commenting on the rejection of his amendement:
“The hemp provisions in this package of appropriations wipe out almost 100% of legal products overnight. This kills jobs, crushes farmers and overrides 23 state laws, which already regulate hemp responsibly. When crop prices dropped and fertilizer and fuel costs rose, our farmers turned to hemp for a source of income. Some members of Congress chose to ban hemp instead of cooperating with us in cracking down on synthetic cannabinoids and bad actors.
He hasn’t given up yet. On Tuesday, the Hemp Roundtable reported Senator Paul is submitting an emergency amendment to again attempt to strike the hemp ban from the proposed legislation.
U.S. Hemp roundtable general counsel reiterated: “We will fight with Senator Rand Paul to ensure that hemp is regulated and safe. We also support his efforts in this regard.” Jonathan Miller.
The Hemp Roundtable has been preparing to counteract the legislation if the larger bill passes.
If passed, they claim, this legislation will wipe out 95 percent of the hemp industry. Small businesses and American farms would be forced to stop growing hemp. States could lose up to $1.5 Billion in tax revenue. But the ban won’t affect those farmers growing hemp industrial for fiber and food.
The House is expected to vote on final passage of the funding bill around 7 p.m local time today.