INDUSTRY UPDATES

February 07, 2025

Hemp Bill Updates in Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota and Texas

With state legislatures opening up around the country, our advocacy efforts are ramping up! This week, we’ve launched campaigns or have an update in Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota and Texas.

Some bills, such as South Dakota’s HB 1116, offer promising opportunities for hemp businesses. While others, like Florida’s SB334 or Ohio’s SB86, present serious threats to the industry with arbitrary THC limits and harmful restrictions on product sales. 

We need your voice to protect the future of hemp. Visit our State Action Center to stay informed and contact lawmakers to support or oppose key bills in your state. 

Florida

Florida SB 334 limits hemp extract products to 2mg of total delta-9 THC per serving and 20mg per container on a wet-weight basis, whichever is less. These arbitrary THC limits would effectively ban full spectrum hemp products. 

Florida Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center to email your legislators in opposition of SB 334.

Contact Florida Legislators

Ohio

Ohio SB 86 pushes intoxicating hemp products into Ohio’s dispensary system. A product is intoxicating if it has more than 0.5mg of delta-9 THC per serving, more than 2mg of delta-9 THC per package, or more than 0.5mg of total non-delta-9 THC per package. Hemp beverage products may be sold at retail if they do not exceed 0.3% of any THC, 0.4% of THC per fluid ounce, and 48 fluid ounces per package (i.e., four pack of 12 fl. oz.). However, the bill appears to ban direct-to-consumer ecommerce sales. While the carve out for beverages is an improvement over a complete ban, the bill must be defeated for its arbitrarily low THC limits for other ingestible products and its ban against ecommerce sales.

Ohio Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center in opposition of SB86 today. 

Contact Ohio Legislators

Nebraska

Nebraska LB316 is being characterized as a pro-hemp bill. But upon closer examination, the bill would ban hemp-derived CBD products by requiring them to be possessed, handled, transported, used, and consumed in accordance with the Nebraska Pure Food Act and the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The bill is using the FDA’s non-binding guidance that CBD cannot be added to food or marketed as a dietary ingredient to criminalize CBD products. The FDA’s non-binding guidance should not be the basis for criminalizing hemp-derived CBD products that are federally legal under the Farm Bill, especially non-intoxicating products.


Nebraska Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center in opposition of the bill today.   

Contact Nebraska Legislators

South Dakota

On the positive side, South Dakota HB 1116 legalizes hemp balm and lotion products, hemp pet food and pet treats, and hemp horse feed. The bill will create new economic opportunities for hemp farmers and small businesses and may pave the way for legalizing more hemp products in the future. 

South Dakota Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center in support of HB1116 today.   

Contact South Dakota Legislators

Kentucky

Kentucky HB 34 criminalizes driving under the influence of marijuana based on having 5 or more nanograms of THC in blood. We applaud the bill’s public safety goal and have zero tolerance for driving while intoxicated. However, more science is needed on how much THC in blood is intoxicating, and the bill’s overbroad definition of “marijuana concentration” appears to include THC concentration from non-intoxicating hemp products. We will continue to review these issues as the bill moves through the legislative process.

Iowa

Iowa HF 105 redefines medical cannabidiol to include oral forms, topical forms, and inhaled forms. We have concerns that the new definition would apply to all hemp-derived CBD products and require them to be prescribed by a doctor under Iowa’s medical cannabidiol program. We’re monitoring the bill closely, so please stay tuned.

South Carolina

South Carolina HB 3924 limits hemp-derived consumables to 0.5mg of delta-9 THC per serving and 25mg total of all other cannabinoids per serving. Chemically derived cannabinoids like delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, HHC, THC-O, and THCp would be prohibited. Additionally, the bill requires a beer or wine permit or liquor license to sell hemp-derived consumables, effectively banning ecommerce sales. The arbitrarily low THC limits will eliminate 90-95% of hemp products, and the ban against ecommerce sales will hurt businesses and consumers.

South Carolina Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center in opposition of HB3924 today.   

Contact South Carolina Legislators

Texas

Texas HB 2155 would ban the sale, transfer, or delivery of consumable hemp products, including cosmetics. This would undo current law allowing for the retail sale of consumable hemp products. We shouldn’t be surprised—Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who controls the Texas Senate, announced he will pursue legislation banning all forms of consumable THC. It appears some members in the state House are following suit with HB 2155. 

Texas Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center in opposition of the bill today.   

Contact Texas Legislators

Visit our State Action Center to see active campaigns across the country!

State Action Center

Check out the latest hemp and CBD updates from across the states!