Nebraska Bill to Ban Hemp THC Products Stalled Until Next Year

A Nebraska proposal to ban most hemp THC products has stalled after the bill’s main sponsor, state Sen. Kathleen Kauth (R), requested the bill be “passed over” Friday due to uncertain support for the proposal, the Nebraska Examiner reports.

Legislative Bill 316 would have effectively banned products containing hemp-derived THC and other cannabinoids, except for cannabidiol (CBD), but lawmakers will have to take up the issue again next year.

The bill was supported by all of the Legislature’s Republican cohort except for state Sen. Ben Hansen (R), who had promised to oppose the bill if it was not amended to contain protections for the state’s medical cannabis program as, in its current form, the bill could “greatly impact” the program.

“That’s something I cannot have. I think the people passed [medical cannabis] for a specific reason, and I think they are then due to have what they voted for.” — Hansen, via the Nebraska Examiner

Kauth’s proposal had also included a “consumer safe harbor period” for the rest of 2025 so consumers could legally discard any hemp THC products. Under the proposal, any hemp products that would not have been targeted by the ban would have been subjected to an additional 10% wholesale tax on all purchases, with the additional revenue reserved for property tax relief, the report said.

While the proposal was targeting hemp-based cannabinoids, the bill carved out some allowances for the mature stalks of hemp plants to support hemp fiber- and textile-based products.

Meanwhile, Nebraska voters approved medical cannabis legalization in the state last year, but lawmakers have so far failed to pass any proposal implementing the reforms.