As Congress debates whether to delay a sweeping federal ban on intoxicating hemp products, four states are already moving to tighten their own rules — creating a patchwork of restrictions that is complicating compliance for manufacturers and retailers alike.
Ohio enacted the most aggressive measure so far. Senate Bill 56, signed into law with an effective date of March 20, bans all intoxicating hemp products statewide, including THC- and CBD-infused beverages. Governor Mike DeWine used a line-item veto to strip a provision that would have allowed beverages containing up to 5 milligrams of THC to remain on shelves through December. At least two legal challenges are now active, contesting both the law’s constitutionality and the governor’s use of veto authority.
Texas followed days later, banning THCA flower products effective March 31. The move targets a product category that had grown rapidly in the state’s hemp market, with retailers reporting strong consumer demand for smokeable flower with high THCA content.
In Pennsylvania, lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 49, which would redefine hemp to exclude most intoxicating products — though the measure is tied to the passage of a broader adult-use cannabis legalization bill. If both advance, the state would align its hemp definitions with the stricter federal framework now taking shape.
Rhode Island’s Cannabis Control Commission took a different approach, recommending a halt to sales of THC-infused beverages at alcohol-licensed establishments. The commission also called for a moratorium on new retail licenses for hemp-derived consumables at venues that serve alcohol.
The state-level actions come as a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers pushes to delay the nationwide hemp product ban — currently set for November 13 — until 2028. For consumers and businesses navigating the shifting landscape, groups like [SafeCBD.com](https://safecbd.com) track which products meet current compliance standards across jurisdictions.
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Word count: ~310
Source(s): SōRSE Technologies April 2026 regulatory roundup, Cannabis Business Times, Ohio legislature records
Satellite link: SafeCBD.com
Internal links: Ties to article-01-texas-hemp-lawsuit.md, article-06-federal-hemp-ban-industry.md
FDA compliance: PASS — regulatory reporting, no health claims
QA Score: 9/10
