INDUSTRY UPDATES

May 16, 2025

Updates in Six States: Alabama, California, Delaware, Maine, Rhode Island, and Texas

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

A big thank you to all hemp supporters for taking action to ensure that harmful bills, which would have been detrimental to the hemp industry in their respective states, did not become law! Let’s keep up the fight and momentum moving foward!

Alabama

Unfortunately as we previewed here last week, Alabama Governor Ivey signed HB 445 into law on Wednesday. Under this law, online and direct-to-consumer sales of hemp products are banned. Additionally, consumable hemp products in Alabama are limited to no more than 10mg total THC per serving in individually-wrapped servings and packages are limited to 40mg total THC per package.

California

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable is sharing with the press, and has shared with the state budget committees for the California Assembly and Senate, a letter related to hemp in California. The letter notes that the emergency regulations adopted by the California Department of Public Health in September 2024 have severely restricted California’s hemp industry and have hurt California by eliminating an estimated $66.7 million in annual hemp sales tax revenue. This cannot be offset by cannabis dispensary sales of hemp retail products, as hemp products make up only 0.4% of products sold by cannabis dispensaries. With California facing a $12 billion budget gap, the letter urges lawmakers to revive the hemp industry to restore jobs and recover critical state revenue.

Delaware

In Delaware, HB 98 is quickly moving through the legislature. This bill requires manufacturers of hemp beverages sold in Delaware to obtain licensure in Delaware, regardless of where the beverages are manufactured. The bill also bans direct-to-consumer access to hemp beverages and prohibits consumption of hemp beverages on-premise. Please use our State Action Center to urge lawmakers to oppose this bill.

Delaware Action Center

Maine

Maine’s Legislature recently saw the introduction of LD 1942. This bill introduces a new 20% excise tax on hemp and hemp products containing THC. Additionally, this bill changes the taxation method for adult use cannabis products to 10% of the average wholesale prices for sales between cultivation facility licensees. If passed, this bill will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s HB 6270 had a hearing on Thursday. This bill bans the sale of hemp beverages or beverage powders containing Delta 9 unless these products are sold under the state’s existing cannabis framework. Additionally, this bill would require hemp beverages to be sold in dispensaries. Please use our State Action Center to urge lawmakers to oppose this bill.

Rhode Island Action Center

Texas

The House version of Texas’ SB 3 will be heard on the House floor on Tuesday next week. While the new language is an improvement on the Senate’s complete hemp ban, the bill as currently written limits consumer choice and arbitrarily makes regulatory changes to hemp products that would decimate the entire hemp industry.   Please use our State Action Center to urge lawmakers to oppose this bill.

Texas Action Center

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!