Trump Urges Congress to Roll Back Hemp Product Ban He Signed Into Law
The president wants lawmakers to preserve legal CBD access while maintaining restrictions on intoxicating hemp products — a sharp pivot from the ban he approved months ago.
By CBDWorldNews Editorial Staff | April 29, 2026
President Donald Trump is calling on Congress to amend a law that would federally recriminalize most hemp-derived CBD products by November 2026. The request marks a reversal from Trump’s own signature on the continuing resolution that contained the ban late last year.
What Changed — and Why
The provision Trump signed in late 2025 redefined hemp to include total THC concentration — covering THCA and delta-8 THC — at no more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis. It also set a hard cap of 0.4 milligrams of THC per finished product container. Under those limits, the vast majority of full-spectrum CBD oils, gummies, and tinctures currently sold in the United States would become illegal on November 12, 2026.
Trump now says the law went too far. In a statement released April 24, he asked Congress to “preserve access to CBD” for Americans who rely on hemp-derived wellness products while maintaining “restrictions on the sale of products that pose health risks.”
“We need to protect the farmers and small businesses who built this industry while keeping dangerous intoxicating products off store shelves.” — President Trump, April 24, 2026
The Industry Stakes
The timing adds urgency to an already tense situation. According to a recent USDA report, the U.S. hemp industry posted $739 million in production value in 2025, up 64% from the prior year. Farmers planted 49,267 acres of hemp nationwide. A blanket enforcement of the current THC limits would put thousands of businesses at risk and strand farmers mid-season.
Hemp beverage companies have already started diversifying their product lines. Several brands launched low-dose and THC-free drinks in recent weeks, hedging against the possibility that Congress fails to act before the November deadline.
Legislative Responses Taking Shape
At least two bills aim to address the problem. Rep. Andy Barr drafted the Legal Hemp Protection Act on April 19, proposing a taxed regulatory framework with testing, packaging, and labeling requirements for hemp-derived beverages. The bill would create a legal path for low-THC hemp drinks while maintaining restrictions on high-potency products.
Sen. Rand Paul introduced the bipartisan Hemp Safety Enforcement Act with co-sponsors Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA). That bill would empower states and tribal governments to regulate hemp product safety independently, preventing a one-size-fits-all federal crackdown.
Both approaches share common ground: they draw a line between traditional CBD wellness products and the higher-THC intoxicating products that prompted the original ban.
What Happens Next
Congressional sources say the hemp provisions could be addressed through the 2026 Farm Bill, which advanced through committee in April with the intoxicating hemp ban still intact. Industry groups are pushing for an amendment before the bill reaches the floor.
The National Law Review noted that businesses face a “compliance cliff” — the November deadline leaves little room for companies to reformulate products, update labels, or restructure supply chains if the law stays as written.
For consumers who use full-spectrum CBD products for daily wellness, the practical impact depends entirely on how Congress responds. Products from brands that publish third-party lab results verifying THC content remain the safest choice during this period of regulatory uncertainty.
The Broader Pattern
Trump’s reversal reflects a broader recognition that the hemp ban’s net was cast too wide. The original legislation targeted delta-8 THC products and high-potency hemp edibles that critics said mimicked marijuana. But the THC limits also swept in full-spectrum CBD oils, topicals, and supplements that contain only trace amounts of THC — products that millions of Americans purchase from reputable CBD brands each month.
The hemp industry now waits to see whether Congress can thread the needle: protecting consumers from unregulated intoxicating products while preserving the legal market for CBD that farmers, businesses, and buyers depend on.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. CBD products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
