Most commentary on the “hemp ban” included in the November funding bill has focused on two related questions: (1) which products and activities may become unlawful on November 12, 2026; and (2) whether Congress will materially amend or delay the ban before then.
I recently discussed another consequence operators should be considering as the deadline
The Week in Weed: January 16, 2026
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, we see yet another attempt to legalize adult-use cannabis in New Hampshire. A new federal funding bill would continue to deny a retail market for adult-use cannabis in DC. Another federal bill would delay
Are You Using AI for Hemp Compliance? Why That’s Risky, and What to Do Instead
An “AI ban” on THCa flower in NC wasn’t real. Here’s why AI gets hemp law wrong, where it helps, and how to stay compliant.
California Ramps Up Enforcement Against Online Hemp Sales
This latest round of anti-hemp legislation will invariably force even more hemp businesses out of California. It will also hasten the state’s demise as the cannabis capital of the country, as more and more legacy cannabis companies discover the opportunities that hemp provides and move to friendlier states.
Florida Appeals Court Rules Smell of Cannabis Insufficient to Establish Probable Cause
In a welcome opinion that proves courts can be reasonable when addressing legal and policy shifts regarding cannabis, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal ruled that the mere smell of cannabis does not establish probable cause for a warrantless search.
Texas Hemp Industry Faces New Threat from Governor Abbott’s Executive Order
Governor Abbott issued an Executive Order that could effectively wipe out sales of THCa hemp flower in Texas. This comes on top of the state legislature’s earlier ban on cannabinoid vapes—already a major revenue hit for hemp businesses.
Texas Hemp Industry Victorious as THC Ban Bill Dies
What Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other Texas prohibitionists fail to realize is that hemp is wildly popular across the political spectrum. While Texans, including the state’s hemp industry, support reasonable regulations, campaigns to ban hemp are unpopular.
New Hemp Laws in Connecticut, Maine, Arkansas, and Maryland
Legislative sessions in many states have wrapped or soon will and there have been a flurry of state laws passed regarding hemp cannabinoid products. From Arkansas to Maine, we’ve seen some recent actions that are important for hemp businesses nationwide.
Thailand Recriminalizes Recreational Cannabis in Unprecedented Move
Although the recriminalization of recreational cannabis understandably steals the headlines, the new regulation includes an important provision that could bolster Thailand’s position in the international marketplace.
8th Circuit Reverses Key Hemp Industry Victory in Arkansas
Back on September 7, 2023, the Arkansas hemp industry scored a significant legal victory. That momentum shifted today.