Story perspectives

Congress Seeks Two-Year Delay on Hemp Ban Amid State Pushback

2/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Hemp Enforcement, Modernization, and Protection Act, a bipartisan bill in Congress, seeks to delay the federal ban on hemp-derived products for two years to allow regulatory development.
Advocates say regulation, not prohibition, is essential for consumer safety and local farmers.
In Indiana, state lawmakers are pushing stricter laws on THC products despite federal reclassification efforts.
Advocates say Indiana's actions frustrate efforts to reflect changing national attitudes toward cannabis.

History

Historical Context

The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, introduced by Rep. Robert L. Doughton, marked the first national regulation of cannabis in the U.S., imposing heavy taxes that effectively criminalized its use. This act was repealed in 1970 by the Controlled Substances Act, which classified cannabis as a Schedule I drug. Today, the bipartisan Hemp Enforcement Act reflects changing attitudes, contrasting with stricter state laws like those in Indiana.

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Story summary

The Hemp Enforcement, Modernization, and Protection Act, a bipartisan bill in Congress, seeks to delay the federal ban on hemp-derived products for two years to allow regulatory development.
Advocates say regulation, not prohibition, is essential for consumer safety and local farmers.
In Indiana, state lawmakers are pushing stricter laws on THC products despite federal reclassification efforts.
Advocates say Indiana's actions frustrate efforts to reflect changing national attitudes toward cannabis.

1 / 2