Last week, on November 13, 2025, just a couple of days after Veterans Day, the United States Congress ended federally legal hemp-derived THC with the signature of President Donald J. Trump.
It goes without saying that we aren’t happy about this at all! In fact, the entire hemp industry is huffing about this. If you’ve ever used these products for relief, you’d probably find the word “unhappy” lacking the intensity of describing your frustration.
So, what led to this moment? When will the THC ban start? What should you expect in the near future? Read all about it and more as we uncover the story of the federal ban on hemp-derived THC.
What Led to This Moment?
Have you been keeping tabs on the news? If you have, you’d know that the U.S. federal government was temporarily shut down from October 1, 2025, to November 13, 2025.
1. Understanding Government Shutdown
Now, what’s a government shutdown, and what does it have to do with the hemp ban? A situation like this occurs when Congress fails to pass crucial bills that fund or authorize the operations of the executive branch (the President). This causes some federal functions to come to a halt and affects various programs.
To end such a shutdown, Congress must agree on a funding bill. Then, the President has to sign this bill for it to take effect.
The funding bill that was just passed included an outright ban on all hemp-derived THC products, among other things.
2. Why Was the Hemp Ban Included?
As it’s a standalone bill, a hemp ban would never have passed in Congress – Fact!
The other option was to slip the language into an omnibus bill and tie it to reopening the country. This forced votes for the full package. Sadly, the shutdown of an entire industry paled in comparison to the pressure to reopen the country.
H.R.5371: What it Says About Hemp
It took 15 attempts to get a funding bill through Congress. Once it did, Senator Mitch McConnell added a provision redefining legal hemp as follows:
“HEMP
(A) IN GENERAL. The term ‘hemp’ means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a total tetrahydrocannabinols concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.
(B) INCLUSION. Such term includes industrial hemp.
(C) EXCLUSIONS. Such term does not include –
- (I) any viable seeds exceeding 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis; or
-
(II) any intermediate hemp-derived cannabinoid products containing –
- (a) cannabinoids not naturally produced by Cannabis sativa L.;
- (b) cannabinoids that –
- (aa) are capable of being naturally produced; and
- (bb) were synthesized or manufactured outside the plant; or
- (c) more than 0.3% total tetrahydrocannabinols or cannabinoids with similar effects;
- (III) any intermediate hemp-derived cannabinoid products marketed or sold as final consumer products; or
-
(IV) any final hemp-derived cannabinoid products containing –
- (a) cannabinoids not naturally produced by Cannabis sativa L.;
- (b) cannabinoids that –
- (aa) are capable of being naturally produced; and
- (bb) were synthesized or manufactured outside the plant; or
- (c) more than 0.4 milligrams combined total tetrahydrocannabinols per container.
So, what does it all mean?
-
All Delta-8, Delta-9 (from CBD), Delta-10, HHC, THCP are banned.
All psychoactive hemp products are banned.
Any product with more than 0.4mg of THC or THCA is banned.
At this point, you’re probably thinking, “What does a hemp ban have to do with funding the federal government?” The truth: nothing at all.
Senator McConnell used a political tactic called a rider — an unrelated provision added to a must-pass bill. This is how the hemp restrictions were pushed through.
When Will the Federal Hemp Ban Come to Pass?
The federal ban on hemp-derived THC will take effect on November 13, 2026.
Good news: you won’t become a criminal for possessing hemp-derived THC during this year-long window.
You can still buy hemp-derived THC online and at Green Herbal Care stores.
The Battle Has Only Begun
When H.R. 5371 passed, the Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC) released the following statement:
“History has shown that these kinds of restrictions can be stopped... (full quote preserved)”
The THBC made it clear: the hemp industry has defeated bans before, and it will fight again — in Texas, and now in Washington, DC.
The Bottom Line
The events of November 13, 2025 will go down as one of the most infamous moments for the hemp community. But this isn’t the end — it’s a call to fight.
Here’s what you need to remember:
- Hemp-derived THC isn’t illegal.
- You won’t become a criminal for possessing or buying hemp-derived THC.
- You can still buy hemp-derived THC online and in stores.
- You aren’t fighting alone.
Be seeing you. Adios!
