A Republican senator says he has plans to meet with House lawmakers to “reach a compromise” on an approach to regulate hemp in light of his opposition to a proposal in Congress to ban products with any “quantifiable” amount of THC.
Part of that compromise, he said, is to address concerns he and other stakeholders have about vague language that leaves it up to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to determine what constitutes a “quantifiable” amount. Without specifications, the worry it that essentially all consumable cannabinoid products could end up being re-criminalized.
After preventing the ban from being incorporated into a Senate agriculture spending bill passed by the body last week, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) wrote in an op-ed published by The Courier Journal on Thursday that he’s still discussing the issue with its proponent, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
The debate has created tension between the Kentucky senators, with Paul pushing for regulations that he said would promote public safety while preserving the hemp industry that’s proliferated since the crop was federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill—a reform that McConnell played a key role in advancing.
“My opposition to the amendment proposed by Sen. McConnell is that it would essentially set the legal limit of THC in CBD products to zero,” Paul said in the op-ed. “The hemp industry has warned that completely prohibiting a naturally occurring substance will destroy the industry, in part because customers likely buy these products for the perceived health benefits of low levels of THC.”
“Further, the proposed reform is vague and would criminalize hemp products like CBD oil if they contain only a ‘quantifiable amount’ of THC, as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services,” he said. “My concern is that this non-specific law could be interpreted to mean zero THC, which would not only be nearly impossible to produce, but also may have no customer base.”
“This is why the hemp industry worries it could be killed by reforms that are not well thought out.”
Paul, for his part, hasn’t denied problems in the intoxicating hemp market, writing that some distributors “are skirting the legal limits by overly enhancing the concentrations of certain cannabinoids in their hemp products.”
“I believe a compromise can be reached in which the hemp industry continues to grow while also providing safe products to consumers.”https://t.co/TPkJIEUh7S
“As a consequence, some of these products are dangerous and, in some states, available to underage youths, prompting reform efforts,” he said, adding that both he and the industry at large are “open to reforms that prevent ‘juicing up’ hemp products, like hemp beverages, with purely synthetic cannabinoids of unknown origin that may cause reactions similar to marijuana.”
“At least 25 states have already instituted age limits and THC levels for such products. I have no objection to many of these reforms,” Paul said. “Ideally, the reforms would occur at the state level and maintain a reasonably low dose of delta-9 THC in the finished product.”
However, he wrote that regulations limiting THC levels in hemp products “should not set a target so low it can’t be physically attained,” and they shouldn’t “set targets so low that the product loses its intended effect, which is most often to manage pain or anxiety.”
“Any reform to the legal treatment of hemp must ensure that the industry has the opportunity to thrive while promoting consumer safety,” he said.
The senator said he remains “engaged in discussions with Senator McConnell and other interested members, and we have plans to meet with members of the House of Representatives in the near future to reach a compromise.”
“These discussions provide us with the opportunity to inject some common sense into the regulatory framework for hemp. Currently, if a single hemp plant exceeds the .3 percent delta-9 THC limit, regulations require the entire field be plowed under and a year’s crop is lost. Regulations should focus on finished, consumable hemp products rather than the hemp plants and the farmers that grow them. Any reform should acknowledge that hemp grown for industrial uses, like hemp wood, should not require testing at all, which would result in less waste for hemp famers.”
“Reasonable and clear statutory guidelines that ensure the viability of the hemp industry and the safety of its products is preferable to using the law to smash a market that is currently depended upon by Kentucky farmers, business owners and consumers,” Paul said. “If all interested parties act in good faith, I believe a compromise can be reached in which the hemp industry continues to grow while also providing safe products to consumers.”
The hemp language in the Senate spending bill, prior to being removed, was nearly identical to what the House Appropriations Committee passed in June, with noted cannabis prohibitionist Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) leading the charge.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report in June stating that the legislation would “effectively” prohibit hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Initially it said that such a ban would prevent the sale of CBD as well, but the CRS report was updated to exclude that language for reasons that are unclear.
The hemp language is largely consistent with appropriations and agriculture legislation that was introduced, but not ultimately enacted, under the last Congress.
A leading alcohol industry association, meanwhile, has called on Congress to dial back language in the House spending bill that would ban most consumable hemp products, instead proposing to maintain the legalization of naturally derived cannabinoids from the crop and only prohibit synthetic items.
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) President and CEO Francis Creighton said in a press release that “proponents and opponents alike have agreed that this language amounts to a ban.”
At the hearing, Rep. James Comer (R-KY) also inquired about FDA inaction around regulations, sarcastically asking if it’d require “a gazillion bureaucrats that work from home” to regulate cannabinoids such as CBD.
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[PRESS RELEASE] – BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 18, 2025 – Canopy USA LLC, a brand-driven organization strategically positioned across the fastest-growing states and highest potential segments of the U.S. cannabis market, announced the appointment of a new executive team responsible for driving the company’s next phase of expansion.
Drawing on extensive industry experience, these leaders will steer Canopy USA forward through a shared vision to elevate the company’s brand portfolio, enhance day-to-day operations and execution, and advance growth initiatives across multiple state markets.
Casey Rash, chief financial officer, will oversee centralized functions including finance, human resources and IT. Rash brings deep expertise in regulated industries and a strategic approach to driving organizational scale and efficiency.
Rebecca Kirk, chief operating officer, will lead the company’s operations, innovation and legal teams. Known for building scalable systems and launching category-leading products, Kirk will play a critical role in driving Canopy USA’s performance across its value chain.
Kelly Flores, chief business development officer, will be responsible for marketing, market expansion and product strategy. With a proven track record in cannabis commercialization, Flores will guide brand development and strategic growth initiatives in both existing and emerging state markets.
“These leadership appointments mark the start of a plan to capture growth in the U.S. cannabis market,” Canopy USA President Brooks Jorgensen said. “Within the best of each Acreage, Jetty and Wana, we’ve been aligning systems, teams and processes across markets to create a scalable, efficient organization. With our leadership team now in place, we’re moving forward with purpose.”
Canopy USA’s platform is built to deliver consistent quality, innovative products and trusted brands to consumers and retail partners nationwide. By combining deep market expertise with a focus on execution, the company aims to set the standard for growth and leadership in the evolving U.S. cannabis industry.
Adult-use cannabis sales in Washington state have been falling for five years, according to Department of Revenue data reported by KHQ.
First-quarter sales in 2025 reached $277 million, which is nearly $100 million less than the market’s peak during the pandemic in 2021. Based on current trends, annual cannabis sales this year could be the state’s lowest since 2019 after five straight years of declining sales in Washington.
Regulators attribute the decline to oversupply issues, which drive prices down and make it more difficult for licensees to turn a profit.
Officials with the state Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) recently announced the largest expansion of cannabis dispensaries since the market’s launch over a decade ago, offering up to 52 new retail social equity licenses.
Meanwhile, a report from the state’s legislative auditor found that “Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023,” and that “inaccurate and incomplete data” had hampered regulators’ capacity for “data-driven regulation.”
The auditcalls on the LCB to submit a plan to lawmakers by December 31, 2025, containing strategies to improve data accuracy.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Graham is Ganjapreneur’s Chief Editor. He has been writing about the legalization landscape since 2012 and has been contributing to Ganjapreneur since our official launch in…
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During an interview with Delaware Public Media, Gov. Matt Meyer (D) also discussed a conversation he had with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) about regulating the marijuana industry, drawing a contrast between their respective responsibilities given the fact that Colorado is much larger with more local jurisdictions to interact with compared to Delaware, which has just three counties.
Delaware’s adult-use cannabis market launched at the beginning of this month, but legislation awaiting Meyer’s action would make a key change related to local control of where marijuana businesses could operate. And the governor has indicated he’s still wavering on the proposal.
Asked about the fate of the bill from Sen. Trey Paradee (D), who also championed the state’s legalization legislation, Meyer said: “Stay tuned. You’ll hear soon. We will be taking action very shortly.”
“Listen, I have local government background. I don’t think it’s appropriate that, when state government likes local government regulation, they say, ‘Yeah, we support it,’” the governor said. “And when they don’t like local government regulation, they overrule it.”
“At the same time, it’s important for communities that this moves forward,” he said, referring to the implementation of the adult-use cannabis market.
The response didn’t clearly indicate where Meyer currently stands on the proposal, but he also said it’s “always on the table” that he could allow the bill to take effect without his signature.
“I was talking to Governor Polis of Colorado about marijuana regulation just the other day and he’s just like, ‘Just let the counties do it.’ He has too many counties to know,” Meyer said. “I was asking, ‘What’s the regulation of counties?’ He’s like, ‘I have no idea.’ He’s like, ‘Some do it, some don’t. I don’t really know.’”
The Delaware Public Media host said: “But he’s not going to run into the problem, though, where if there’s enough zoning laws, there’s literally no place to put the facilities. That’s probably not a problem for him.”
The governor agreed, saying “Colorado is much larger” with a “three-mile [zoning] limitation from schools,” which would be less feasible in the smaller state of Delaware. “We’re going to see what we can do,” he said.
On the topic of broader regulatory responsibilities, Meyer said the state is “very lucky” that the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OCM) is headed up by someone who comes from outside of Delaware who is “one of the leading thinkers on this issue.”
“He looks at it from a business and community aspect, whereas traditionally Delaware has looked at it as a public safety issue,” the governor said. For his part, Meyer said revenue generated from cannabis taxes is “clearly third” on his list of reasons to support legalization.
The first priority, he said, is ensuring that “communities are sustainable and they’re safe and they’re protected.”
“I think there’s a lot of concern in communities. I have small children. What are we doing? Do we want this thing all around our kids? I don’t know how many of you have been to New York or San Francisco lately, but you go outside and there’s that stench,” he said. “That’s not Delaware. We’re doing everything to make sure that we continue to retain the same communities we have.”
“We also have a historic obligation. Marijuana and marijuana enforcement in this state has not been equitable. There are people in our communities today, almost all Black and brown people, who have been imprisoned for years and years for using and selling marijuana, where people of different colors of skin have not had that same experience. We need to make sure we use whatever revenue we have to address that historic wrong going forward.”
“We’re continuing to watch and monitor to make sure communities are being protected as this economic opportunity grows and make sure people are safe,” Meyer said.
While marijuana revenue might be “third” on his list, the governor recently touted the state’s first “successful” weekend of adult-use cannabis sales, with total purchases for medical and recreational marijuana totaling nearly $1 million—and compliance checks demonstrating that the regulated market is operating as intended under the law.
Delaware’s first adult-use marijuana shops officially opened for business on August 1, with a handful of existing medical cannabis operators able to service consumers 21 and older.
Ahead of the sales roll-out, the governor last month toured one of the state’s cannabis cultivation facilities, praising the quality of marijuana that’s being produced, which he said will be the “French wine of weed.”
Dozens of other would-be retailers that have either already received licenses or are still awaiting issuance will need to wait for further regulatory approvals until they can open their doors—a situation that’s frustrated some advocates.
The idea is to identify any hiccups that lawmakers might need to address when they return for next year’s legislative session.
OCM initially projected that recreational sales would start by March, but complications related to securing an FBI fingerprint background check service code delayed the implementation. Lawmakers passed a bill in April to resolve the issue, and the FBI subsequently issued the code that the stat’s marijuana law requires.
A total of 125 licenses will ultimately be issued, including 30 retailers, 60 cultivators, 30 manufacturers and five testing labs. Last year, regulators also detailed what portion of each category is reserved for social equity applicants, microbusinesses and general open licenses.
The then-governor last year signed several additional marijuana bills into law, including measures that would allow existing medical cannabis businesses in the state to begin recreational sales on an expedited basis, transfer regulatory authority for the medical program and make technical changes to marijuana statutes.
The dual licensing legislation is meant to allow recreational sales to begin months earlier than planned, though critics say the legislation would give an unfair market advantage to larger, more dominant businesses already operating in multiple states.
The policy change removes limitations for patient eligibility based on a specific set of qualifying health conditions. Instead, doctors will be able to issue cannabis recommendations for any condition they see fit.
The law also allows patients over the age of 65 to self-certify for medical cannabis access without the need for a doctor’s recommendation.
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