Weed restrictions following the new bill send companies scrambling.

Question

The congressional funding bill included a THC cap on weed that bans most hemp products, further threatening a $28 billion dollar industry. More than 300,000 people's jobs are at risk and with the stability of our economy as it is this makes it much harder on people. Executives warn people that the ban could fuel a surge in black-market sales if these regulations go far enough, and that people want weed more than they care about the law.

This new ban will outlaw products that contain more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container, and the industry executives are saying that this will wipe out 95% of the billion dollar industries. The biggest problem with this new ban is the loss of jobs, with over 300,000 people at risk of job loss.

Answer 1

This appears to be true. The Hill also reported on this "last-minute amendment" to the recently passed government spending bill. According to The Hill:

The amendment, which is set to go into effect in a year, bans the sale of hemp products with more than 0.4 milligrams per container of total delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—a psychoactive cannabinoid, or compound found in the cannabis plant.

Michelle Bodian, general counsel and head of regulatory affairs at Nowadays, a company that sells THC-infused drinks, noted the variety of products that contain hemp-derived cannabinoids, including "beverages, tinctures, lotion, gummies, flowers, and smokeables."

It's true, too, that the industry has considerable adjusting to do in response to the new legislation. The one-year deadline to close the hemp loophole "threatens the broader hemp market—estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars—with what one economist calls 'an extinction-level event.'" In reporting by Houston Public Media, economist Beau Whitney noted that "there are roughly 6,350 businesses that are projected to fail as a result of this and displace over 40,000 workers," representing "a significant blow to the Texas economy."

Further, Kentucky Public Radio host Joe Sonka emphasizes findings by the U.S. Hemp Roundtable advocacy group that predicted the legislation would wipe out 300,000 jobs, or roughly 95% of America's $28 billion hemp industry.

Answer 2

Trump has just recently signed a bill that bans consumable hemp products in the United States. Anything above 0.4 mg per container will be considered illegal, which includes marijuana used for medicinal purposes as well. This bill will take effect in November 2026 and recriminalizes the crop legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, passed during Trump's first term in office. This ban threatens a $ 28 billion industry and puts “more than 300,000 jobs at risk,” according to https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/13/congress-thc-hemp-ban.html. This includes manufacturers, farmers, and retail workers, among others, who will be affected once this law goes into effect. It's also stated that "States with the biggest hemp infrastructure like Kentucky, Texas, and Utah are likely to face the steepest economic fallout," meaning these economies will face economic consequences as they adjust to this change in employment. 

Sources: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/congress-passes-bill-to-recriminalize-hemp-thc-products-sending-it-to-trumps-desk/ 

Answer 3

This claim is true. The bill restricts over 95% of hemp products, which shows companies are immediately affected. A lot of businesses are worried that without proper rules, many products could move to the black market, proving the industry is scrambling. The article reports that the hemp industry has a full year to work with Congress to create regulations instead of facing an immediate ban. It also says the restrictions were fueled by misinformation, not facts about hemp products.

https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/hemp/news/15771817/us-hemp-roundtable-industry-setback-leads-to-365day-mission-to-regulate

Answer 4

With the addition of this bill, there is more control over certain hemp products, thus the claim is true. Since 2018, the federal government distinguished between marijuana and hemp with hemp containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC. Since 2025, the government restricts the sale of certain hemp products derived outside of the plant and a total concentration of 0.4 mg of THC per container. The hemp industry is reported to be valued at $28 billion. The law will "wipe out" 95% of the industry according to the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. In the CNBC article, Whitney Economics reports more than 300,000 are threatened by this bill.

CNBC article (center-left leaning): https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/13/congress-thc-hemp-ban.html

Congress article (government funded): https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IN12620

NPR transcript (center-left leaning): https://www.npr.org/2025/11/13/nx-s1-5607122/hemp-industry-warns-provision-in-the-government-funding-bill-will-kill-30b-market

Answer 5

This claim appears to be true. The CNBC article claims that a congressional funding bill includes a provision placing a strict cap on THC levels in hemp derived products, a move that could effectively ban most products currently sold in the US hemp market. According to the article, THC products would be limited to no more than 0.4 milligrams per container. This supports the claim that a large share of the market would be eliminated, but the exact percentage is based on industry estimates. CNBC cites hemp industry executives and trade groups who warn that the policy could threaten an industry valued at approximately $28 billion and put more than 300,000 jobs at risk. These figures are consistent with commonly cited industry-wide estimates used by hemp advocacy organizations, though they are not official federal employment statistics. These numbers should be understood as projections rather than guaranteed incomes. Overall, the claim accurately reflects the contents of the proposed funding bill and concerns raised by hemp industry representatives. However, predictions that the ban would eliminate 95% of the industry or directly cause widespread job losses remain speculative and dependent on how to rule is implemented, enforced, or potentially revised. PBS also reported similar findings, as well as less reputable sources like the Cannabis Business Times. Overall the reporting is credible and sourced, but some of the figures used are projections rather than established facts.

PBS - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-a-small-law-change-could-have-a-huge-impact-on-the-u-s-hemp-industry

Cannabis Business Times - https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/hemp/news/15814907/3-senators-file-bill-to-keep-intoxicating-hemp-products-legal-until-late-2028