The hemp derived THC crisis is no longer a fringe issue, it is a defining threat to the integrity, safety and future of America’s regulated cannabis industry.
For more than a decade, industry leaders, policymakers and advocates have worked to normalize cannabis, establish consumer protections and build transparent, accountable markets. But the rise of intoxicating and synthetic hemp products fueled by the 2018 Farm Bill loophole — has thrown that progress into jeopardy.
A Misleading Narrative That Ignores a Public Health Crisis
Last week’s MJBizDaily guest column, “The Great Farm Bill bait and switch,” makes a bold claim: that concerns surrounding intoxicating hemp products are manufactured. But the data, the growing number of state-level warnings and the worsening pediatric exposure statistics tell a very different story.
Hemp manufacturers and distributors continue pushing untested, unregulated, and often synthetic intoxicants into mainstream retail channels while framing legitimate safety concerns as political theater. That tactic ignores the reality on the ground: hospitals, regulators and law enforcement nationwide are sounding the alarm.
The Hemp-Derived THC Public Health Emergency Is Real
The consequences of these unregulated products are visible everywhere:
- Pediatric cannabinoid exposures have surged, with delta-8 and delta-9 THC poisonings rising nationwide.
- Products marketed as “Farm Bill compliant” are routinely mislabeled, contaminated, and sold to minors.
- Evidence of at least one death tied to hemp-derived delta-8 THC has been documented.
- Synthetic conversions such as turning CBD into intoxicating THCs — remain virtually unregulated and often unsafe.
Despite these facts, some hemp industry voices insist the danger is exaggerated. Meanwhile, children continue to end up in hospitals, and products resembling candy, snacks, and drinks remain on gas-station shelves with little oversight.
Governors, Grand Juries and Law Enforcement Agree: This Is a Crisis
Across the country, officials are taking notice:
Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report Exposes Rampant Illicit Sales
A 107-page report from Montgomery County revealed widespread contamination, illegal sales to minors and blatant marketing of intoxicating hemp “to children and adolescents.”
Ohio Declares a Consumer Product Emergency
Gov. Mike DeWine warned that current rules allow intoxicating hemp products to be marketed, sold and ingested by minors with exposures doubling in five years.
Virginia Investigation Uncovers Weapons and Drug Offenses
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced findings of a major police investigation showing vape shops selling hemp intoxicants to youth while engaging in serious criminal activity.
These aren’t isolated incidents, they’re part of a national pattern.
Congress Never Intended the Farm Bill to Legalize Intoxicants
The original intent of Congress was clear: “rope, not dope.”
The 2018 Farm Bill was meant to legalize industrial hemp — not create a loophole allowing the sale of intoxicating cannabinoids outside state-regulated cannabis systems.
By exploiting that loophole, irresponsible operators have destabilized markets, endangered public safety and undermined public trust in cannabis reform.
A Responsible Cannabis Market Cannot Coexist With an Unregulated One
Licensed cannabis businesses operate under rigorous testing, strict labeling rules, child-resistant packaging standards and comprehensive compliance systems. They invest heavily in safety because consumers and communities rely on it.
But hemp-derived THC sellers many with no licensing, oversight or quality control undercut this system with unsafe products, misleading marketing and aggressive lobbying to avoid regulation.
The Path Forward: Close the Loophole and Restore Trust
States like California have already taken decisive action by banning intoxicating hemp products altogether. But national consistency is needed.
Congress must step in to:
- Close the Farm Bill loophole
- Regulate intoxicating cannabinoids within established cannabis frameworks
- Ensure all products intended for human consumption are safe, tested and accurately labeled
- Protect children and communities
- Support legitimate businesses operating in transparent, compliant markets
For the Hemp Industry: Step Up or Step Aside
If hemp businesses want a seat at the table, they must tell the truth about what they’re selling, stop hiding behind technicalities, and commit to responsible standards. If they won’t — they shouldn’t be in this market at all.
Because right now, irresponsible hemp operators are:
- Harming children
- Endangering communities
- Fueling anti-legalization narratives
- Undercutting the work of legitimate, compliant cannabis businesses
The future of cannabis legalization depends on drawing a clear, enforceable line between regulated cannabis and unregulated intoxicating hemp.
Those of us who have spent our careers building a safe, legal, transparent industry aren’t asking for special treatment we’re asking for fairness, honesty, and a level playing field.
Contact Cannabis Risk Manager.
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