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The House and Senate Committees on Appropriations have approved FY2026 Agriculture appropriations bills (H.R. 4121 and S. 2256) that would similarly redefine the statutory definition of hemp to restrict the commercial production, sale, and distribution of certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products. House appropriators have expressed that the provision would close "the hemp loophole that has resulted in the proliferation of unregulated intoxicating hemp products." During Senate committee markup, Senator Mitch McConnell expressed that the existing hemp definition has resulted in "an unintended consequence that has allowed for intoxicating hemp-derived synthetic products to be made and sold," calling for changes to reflect "the original intent of the 2018 farm bill" by closing the loophole. The Senate provision would delay implementation for one year; the House provision does not include this delay. Similar action was debated but not enacted in the 118th Congress.
Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS): $223 million for AMS to facilitate the marketing of U.S. agricultural products, both domestically and internationally, support domestic commodity purchase programs to support our agricultural producers, and provide and market data to help producers make informed business decisions. The bill also closes the hemp loophole that has resulted in the proliferation of unregulated intoxicating hemp products being sold across the country.
Drafted by Senators Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, and Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon, the bill provision aims to amend the hemp law established in the 2018 farm bill to prevent the sale of hemp-based intoxicating products. However, the changes would be implemented over the course of one year.
The one-year delay would allow current hemp farmers to finish this year’s crop under existing rules while giving lawmakers time to discuss and finalize new regulations to ensure a smoother transition without disrupting ongoing farming, according to Senator Merkley’s Thursday hearing.