Last November, Congress attached a hemp redefinition to a larger spending bill. Under that current law, hemp gets redefined around total THC instead of just delta-9, and finished products get capped at 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container*, a fixed amount rather than a percentage. That’s still on track to take effect November 12.
On July 22, Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Angie Craig (D-MN) introduced the Lawful Hemp Protection Act (H.R. 9830) as a standalone bipartisan bill to replace that standard before it hits. Instead of the 0.4 mg cap, the LHPA would raise the legal THC threshold to 1% total THC by dry weight (up from today’s 0.3%), require testing at both the finished-product and manufacturing-chain level, ban synthetic cannabinoids, require U.S.-only cultivation and packaging, and set a 21-plus age requirement. It’s drawn support from major hemp industry groups, including the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. The bill was just referred to House committees, so it’s early, and as of this week no hemp-related bill (delay, repeal, or replacement) has advanced past committee in either chamber.
*If passed, this total THC milligram cap could be administratively adopted by the Texas HHS Commissioner.