The White House is calling on Congress to revise federal hemp laws to prevent a broad ban on full-spectrum CBD products that is currently scheduled to take effect in November.
In a Statement of Administration Policy released Thursday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) said the administration supports efforts to update federal definitions governing hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Officials said the goal is to preserve access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products while maintaining restrictions on products that present significant health concerns.
The statement was issued alongside consideration of an annual agriculture appropriations bill in the House of Representatives. Although several lawmakers introduced amendments intended to preserve legal access to hemp products, those proposals either failed to advance or were withdrawn before reaching a floor vote.
“The Administration supports advancement of this legislation, but looks forward to addressing its concerns prior to enactment,” OMB stated, adding that it intends to continue working with Congress as the legislative process moves forward.
The issue stems from changes to federal hemp regulations enacted late last year. While the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and hemp-derived products containing less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis, newer legislation establishes a much stricter limit. Beginning November 12, only products containing no more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container would remain federally legal.
Industry stakeholders argue that the new threshold would effectively remove many full-spectrum CBD products from the market, despite those products being widely used by consumers.
President Donald Trump has publicly urged Congress to address the issue. In April, he called on lawmakers to update federal law to ensure continued access to full-spectrum CBD products while preserving safeguards against potentially harmful cannabinoid products.
Trump argued that many Americans rely on hemp-derived CBD products and that maintaining legal access would also benefit American farmers. He emphasized that Congress should act quickly to prevent disruptions to the industry and to consumers who use CBD for wellness purposes.
The president also referenced recent administration initiatives supporting hemp-derived products, including an executive order promoting CBD research and innovation and a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services pilot program that provides eligible seniors with coverage for certain hemp-derived products. Under that initiative, approved products may contain limited amounts of THC while remaining focused primarily on CBD.
While the administration has made clear that it wants to preserve access to full-spectrum CBD, officials have not yet specified what THC limits or regulatory framework they would support in revised legislation.
White House officials have also been working directly with lawmakers on possible legislative solutions. Earlier this year, senior administration staff transmitted draft language and policy recommendations to Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky, encouraging updates to federal hemp definitions that would preserve access to appropriate CBD products while addressing public health concerns.
Meanwhile, legal challenges to the administration’s hemp-related Medicare coverage policies have faced setbacks. A federal judge recently dismissed a lawsuit brought by anti-marijuana organizations, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked standing to proceed.
Additional regulatory activity is ongoing. The Office of Management and Budget has held discussions regarding Food and Drug Administration enforcement policies for CBD products, while FDA guidance has indicated that the agency does not intend to interfere with implementation of the Medicare hemp-product coverage initiative.
Consumer demand for hemp-derived products continues to grow. Major retailers have expanded their participation in the hemp beverage market, including Target, which recently broadened sales of lower-potency hemp-derived THC products across its Minnesota stores after a successful pilot program.
The agricultural sector has also experienced substantial growth. According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released in April, American farmers produced approximately $750 million worth of hemp crops in 2025, representing a 64 percent increase compared with the previous year.
As Congress continues debating hemp policy, the future legal status of many full-spectrum CBD products remains uncertain, with industry participants closely watching whether lawmakers will revise the restrictions before they take effect later this year.
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