Hemp law,
on the record.
The federal hemp redefinition, the delay Congress passed in September, the bills that could change it again, and where each state stands. Every line links to the bill, statute or agency source.
How we got here.
Congress rewrote the 2018 Farm Bill’s hemp definition in a November 2025 spending law, then pushed most of it back by a month in September 2026.
What the new definition says.
Hemp is redefined using total THC (including THCA), not delta-9 alone. The definition also covers “industrial hemp” grown for fiber, grain, seed oil and other non-cannabinoid uses. It then excludes:
- Hemp-derived cannabinoid products containing cannabinoids “not capable of being naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa L. plant.”
- Products containing naturally occurring cannabinoids that were synthesized or manufactured outside the plant.
- Intermediate products above 0.3% total THC (and other cannabinoids with similar effects).
- Final products with more than 0.4 milligrams combined total THC and similar cannabinoids per container.
- Viable seeds from plants above 0.3% total THC.
Bills that could change it again.
As listed by the Congressional Research Service. Introduction is not passage; most have not moved past committee.
1% total THC + federal framework
Barr (R-KY) and Craig (D-MN), introduced July 22, 2026. 1% total THC, 21+ sales, FDA cannabinoid caps, a three-tier beverage system and taxes. Coverage · April draft (PDF)
Two-year delay
Would push the new definition’s effective date back two more years. H.R. 7010 text (congress.gov) · H.R. 7024
Repeal
Would repeal the §781 changes and restore the 2018 Farm Bill definition. Listed in CRS LSB11496.
Higher limits or a regulatory framework
S. 2112 would allow up to 1% delta-9 THC; the others would create federal frameworks for hemp-derived cannabinoid products. CRS IF13136
House farm bill
As passed by the House: total-THC testing and production plans that separate industrial hemp. Barr hemp amendment (PDF)
Analysis from attorneys and the trade press.
Commentary and interpretation, not law. Read it alongside the primary text, and talk to your own counsel.
Kight Law · Kight on Cannabis
- News Flash: Congress Delays Federal Hemp BanRod Kight · Sept 1, 2026
- November 12 Is Still the Deadline. Is Your Hemp Business Ready?Rod Kight · 2026
- Federal Court Blocks Ohio Hemp Law on Commerce Clause GroundsRod Kight · Sept 7, 2026
- New “Industrial Hemp” Definition: More Loopholes Instead of Real Reform?Rod Kight
- Minnesota Just Gave Hemp Operators a Better Path ForwardRod Kight · 2026
Law firm analysis
- Federal Hemp Update: Definition Change Delayed to December 11Vicente LLP · 2026
- Congress Approves One-Month Delay of Federal Hemp THC RestrictionsAkerman · Sept 2, 2026
- A Temporary Reprieve for Hemp-THC Products… But What Now?Foley Hoag · Sept 2026
- New Federal Restrictions on Hemp and Hemp-Derived ProductsDLA Piper · Nov 18, 2025
- Federal Hemp Redefinition: 2026 THC Limits & ComplianceFrier Levitt
- Navigating New Hemp Laws: A Major Shift for the Cannabis IndustryWomble Bond Dickinson
News & research
- FDA Is 9 Months Late in Publishing Legally Mandated Hemp GuidanceMarijuana Moment
- Hemp and Cannabis Lobbies Intensify Feud After Congress Delays Federal BanMJBizDaily
- Coverage of the September delayInsurance Journal · Sept 7, 2026
- U.S. House Offers Intoxicating Hemp Products 4-Week ReprieveCannabis Business Times
- A Mix of State Laws, and a New Federal Framework Coming SoonCSG Midwest · June 4, 2026
- Intoxicating Hemp: State Legality TableOhio State Moritz College of Law · Apr 2026
Where each state stands.
Each state’s treatment of intoxicating hemp-derived products (delta-8, delta-9 edibles, THCA and similar). Non-intoxicating hemp, CBD and fiber are generally treated differently. Federal changes apply on top of state law.
Showing all 50 states.
Statuses summarize each state’s approach as reported by the linked sources and the Ohio State Moritz College of Law table. Several states are in active litigation or mid-session. Confirm current law with the state agency or your counsel before you ship.
Regulate it. Don’t erase it.
Bona Voluntate supports clear federal rules: testing, labeling, age limits and real enforcement. The redefinition as written hurts legitimate, tested ingredient suppliers alongside the bad actors it targets. We’ll keep this page current as Congress, FDA and the states act. Every lot we ship carries a third-party certificate of analysis showing total THC, so your compliance team has what it needs.
Need a COA for your compliance file?
A named rep replies within one business day with the current lot’s COA showing total THC.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and Bona Voluntate is not a law firm. Laws change quickly; links to third-party sites are provided for reference, and their content is their own. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific products and markets.
Legal Disclaimer. Our products are derived from hemp and comply with the 2018 Farm Bill, which permits a Delta-9 THC concentration of up to 0.3% on a dry-weight basis. The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for, or alternative to, information from healthcare practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires this notice.
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