Bipartisan Bill Introduced in Congress Aims to Preserve U.S. Hemp Industry (Chicago, IL) – A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced federal legislation designed to establish a national regulatory framework for the hemp industry while strengthening consumer protections and supporting domestic hemp producers.
U.S. Reps. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) introduced the Lawful Hemp Protection Act on July 22. Supporters say the legislation would provide long-term stability for the legal hemp industry through nationwide standards for cultivation, manufacturing, testing and labeling.
Craig Katz of the Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association (ILHAA) praised the proposal, calling it an important bipartisan effort to protect the industry.
“This bill is a great bipartisan step toward keeping the legal hemp industry alive,” Katz said in a statement. “It enhances consumer and child safety while also protecting farmers, small businesses, employees, and preserving the long-term viability of the domestic hemp industry.”
According to Barr’s office, the legislation would establish uniform federal standards for hemp production while prohibiting synthetic cannabinoids in finished hemp-derived products. It would also require hemp products to be made from hemp grown, cultivated and packaged in the United States.
The proposal includes several consumer protection measures, including restricting retail sales of hemp-derived products to individuals 21 and older and prohibiting marketing or advertising hemp products to children.
The bill would also protect interstate commerce for hemp products that comply with federal requirements.
The legislation has received support from a coalition of industry organizations, including the American Healthy Alternatives Association, American Herbal Products Association, Americans for Prosperity, Coalition for Adult Beverage Alternatives, Hemp Beverage Alliance, Hemp Industry & Farmers of America, Kentucky Hemp Association, Midwest Hemp Council, Team Hemp, Total Wine & More, U.S. Hemp Roundtable and the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America.
The Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association said it continues to advocate for responsible regulation of legal hemp products, arguing that clear rules can help protect consumers while allowing farmers and small businesses to continue operating.
According to ILHAA, establishing a consistent regulatory framework would improve consumer safety
Bipartisan Bill Introduced in Congress Aims to Preserve U.S. Hemp Industry
