Congressmen Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Marc Veasey (D-TX) have introduced the Hemp Enforcement, Modernization and Protection (HEMP) Act, a bipartisan bill that hopes to establish a first-of-its-kind federal regulatory framework for hemp-derived (or CBD) products intended for human use within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This new measure is intended to create the pathway for federal regulation of cannabidiol (CBD) products and seeks to address long-standing regulatory uncertainty that has left the hemp industry navigating a patchwork of state laws.
The HEMP Act would create a unified federal approach, setting the stage for clearer compliance expectations in areas such as product safety, labelling and market standards.
This bill only regulates hemp-derived products and not cannabis. In fact, cannabis is explicitly prohibited from being regulated through this pathway in the draft.
What this means for the industry
Federal clarification could replace inconsistent state regulations with a consistent national framework.
The bill distinguishes hemp-derived products from cannabis, keeping federal regulation separate.
The initiative reflects growing bipartisan interest in bringing long-overdue legal clarity to the hemp market.
Following the bill's introduction, Chairman Griffith issued the following statement:
"Despite raising repeated concerns about the ongoing confusion regarding the safety, consumption and sale of CBD-containing products until a discussion draft of this bill was circulated, I believe we have yet to see meaningful progress at the federal level."
"I am proud to lead the effort in the House along with Representative Veasey to present a path forward for the federal regulation of CBD products."
"After discussions with stakeholders, federal officials and other relevant authorities, I believe the HEMP Act is a positive step forward to deliver federal clarity to the American hemp landscape, protecting consumers and providing a stable marketplace for legitimate producers."
Congressman Griffith’s measure follows months of circulating a discussion draft to receive input from industry leaders, stakeholders and agencies.
Under the HEMP Act, the FDA must initiate a rulemaking process to set milligram limits of CBD products.
If the FDA fails to release a final rule within three years of the measure’s enactment, federal law will automatically establish CBD intoxicating limits of five milligrams per serving and 30 milligrams per package.