U.S. Congress: Hemp THC Ban Could Be Paused for One Year Under New Farm Bill Amendment

A Republican lawmaker is moving to temporarily halt the impending federal ban on hemp-derived THC products, filing an amendment to the 2026 Farm Bill that would push back implementation by a full year. Representative Jim Baird (R-IN) has introduced language that would postpone a provision redefining hemp under federal law. That redefinition, which was enacted as part of a broader federal spending package signed by President Donald Trump last year, would narrow the scope of what qualifies as legal hemp, effectively eliminating many intoxicating hemp-derived products currently sold nationwide.

Baird’s amendment would delay implementation of Section 781 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2026 for one year. The House Agriculture Committee had been expected to review the proposal earlier this week, but weather-related scheduling changes pushed consideration to next week.

The one-year extension would give lawmakers and industry stakeholders additional time to pursue a regulatory framework for hemp cannabinoids rather than allowing the new restrictions to take effect. It also mirrors a separate effort by Baird this session to secure a longer, two-year postponement through standalone legislation.

If adopted, the amendment would not permanently alter the pending hemp policy shift but would instead create a temporary window for Congress to revisit how hemp-derived THC products are handled under federal law.