GOP Lawmaker Proposes New Rules for Hemp — While Colleagues Eye THC Ban

A Republican congressman is offering a notable alternative to a full hemp THC ban—introducing a new plan to regulate hemp products instead of outlawing them. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R‑VA) circulated a draft bill that would allow adults 21 and older to continue purchasing hemp edibles, beverages, and inhalables—without stripping away everything we know and love about accessible cannabis.

Rather than a ban, Griffith’s proposal outlines rules to keep the market safe, transparent, and adult-friendly. It includes protections such as packaging that doesn’t appeal to kids, tamper-proof seals, and clear labels listing all cannabinoids present. Products would also need a QR code linking to a certificate of analysis—so consumers know exactly what’s inside.

The bill goes on to ban combining hemp with other substances like alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, or melatonin. That’s a smart move to avoid mixing effects and unsafe combinations. Manufacturers would also face testing and registration rules, and HHS (Health and Human Services) would be charged with setting cannabinoid limits within 60 days of enactment, or else default thresholds kick in.

These defaults include safe limits like 10 mg per serving and 50 mg per package for non-intoxicating cannabinoids, and very low limits—0.2 mg per serving—for intoxicating cannabinoids like THC. While this tiny THC cap has raised industry eyebrows—as being “low enough to be an effective ban”—stakeholders appreciate that at least someone is trying to build a regulated path forward.

In contrast, some of Rep. Griffith’s colleagues, from both parties and in state legislatures, are pushing for outright bans on all consumable hemp products—even those with tiny or trace THC levels. That approach would wipe out a booming industry built since the Farm Bill of 2018 created legal room for hemp and its innovations.

This clash shows a real tension: one group wants to shut everything down quickly, while another wants to protect businesses, farmers, and consumers through regulation. It’s a fight between sweeping prohibition and thoughtful reform—and it’s happening now at the federal level.

For cannabis brands and advocates like High Science, Rep. Griffith’s bill offers a hopeful model. It shows that adult access to hemp-derived products can be safe, clear, and responsible—with rules that protect kids while keeping legal innovation alive. That’s the kind of forward-looking reform we believe in.

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