INDUSTRY UPDATES

April 21, 2026

State Hemp Policy Update: Colorado, Ohio, and Federal Update

Take Action Now: Use our State Action Center to contact lawmakers and protect the future of hemp in your state.

As state lawmakers across the country are considering legislation affecting hemp-derived products. Below is a state-by-state summary of key bills we are supporting, opposing, or monitoring, along with opportunities to engage where action is needed. Be sure to check back next week for updates on these bills and others, and as always, please share any bills you are hearing about across the states that aren’t mentioned here.

Colorado

SB26-164 (Monitoring)
Colorado lawmakers have introduced SB26-164, a landmark bill to modernize the regulation of hemp-derived THC beverages by establishing a comprehensive framework for their manufacture, distribution, and sale. The legislation would define “lawful THC beverages” as nonalcoholic products derived from hemp containing up to 10 milligrams of THC per serving and create a regulated pathway for these products to be sold in traditional retail and hospitality settings. This effort comes as states respond to evolving federal policy that threatens to significantly restrict hemp products nationwide. Stakeholders have expressed strong support for the bill’s introduction and are actively engaging to ensure the final framework promotes a safe, accessible, and economically viable hemp beverage market. There is growing optimism that Colorado can establish a model regulatory approach for other states while demonstrating to Congress the need to replace prohibition with clear, enforceable standards for hemp-derived products.

No action requested at this time. We will continue monitoring.

Ohio

SB 56 (Oppose / Litigation Update)
As we have been reporting, Ohio’s SB 56 has created significant disruption by imposing sweeping restrictions on hemp-derived products, including effectively eliminating most consumable products and restricting THC beverages. Legal challenges continue to mount, and courts are beginning to weigh in. In addition to the previously reported Sandusky County ruling temporarily blocking local enforcement, a Franklin County judge has now issued a separate temporary restraining order allowing two hemp retailers to continue operating despite the ban. The April 16 ruling applies to specific businesses, including Happy Harvest and Get Wright Lounge, and centers on claims that the law was improperly enacted and unlawfully restricts hemp commerce. While these decisions are limited in scope, they signal growing judicial scrutiny of SB 56 and highlight the ongoing uncertainty facing Ohio’s hemp market.

No action requested at this time. We will continue monitoring.

Federal

S.4315, the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act
S.4315, the “Hemp Safety Enforcement Act” has officially been introduced by Rand Paul and co-sponsored by Amy Klobuchar and Joni Ernst. The bill would allow states and tribal governments to opt out of impending federal restrictions on hemp-derived cannabinoid products and instead regulate these products under their own state frameworks. The legislation responds to the deeply problematic federal language enacted as part of the November 2025 government funding deal that threatens to upend the hemp industry nationwide. As a reminder, that provision redefines lawful hemp in a way that effectively imposes a 0.4 milligram total THC per container limit, a standard that would eliminate an estimated 90–95% of hemp-derived products on the market and, beginning in November 2026, could subject many of those products to treatment as Schedule I controlled substances. Under S.4315, states choosing to opt out would be required to implement baseline safeguards, such as minimum age requirements and restrictions on unsafe synthetic cannabinoids, while preserving in-state production, sales, and interstate commerce among participating jurisdictions. In a recent Marijuana Moment article, Jonathan Miller praised the bipartisan effort, noting that the bill provides a critical off-ramp from federal overreach and helps ensure states can continue to support responsible, regulated hemp markets while broader federal policy discussions continue.

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!