 Health Care |
Health Care |
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Trump marijuana order throws lifeline to hemp industry |
President Trump threw the hemp industry a lifeline with his order to speed up marijuana rescheduling and launch Medicare coverage of CBD, giving more strength to a significant lobbying fight that looms in the year ahead. |
The hemp industry has been on its back foot since November, when a provision passed through the government funding bill to close a loophole that allowed hemp-derived products to flourish with barely any regulation.
Industry has been warning that provision could ban nearly all hemp-derived consumer products, like full-spectrum CBD, and put companies out of business when it takes effect next year.
Full spectrum CBD contains trace amounts of naturally occurring THC and is non-intoxicating.
Hemp is not a scheduled product. But under the language in the spending bill, any hemp-derived product containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC will be considered cannabis rather than hemp.
Hemp industry stakeholders acknowledged the executive order could bolster their case to Congress but doesn't change anything legally.
"In terms of where the political discussion is going to go, it is definitely a lifeline, and definitely gives us a whole lot more leverage to ensure that what Congress does in the next 11 months is going to be favorable for the industry," said Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable.
The language in the funding bill gives a one-year period before the ban takes effect.
Thomas Winstanley, executive vice president and general manager at edibles.com, said companies will be lobbying to extend the implementation period for at least six months ahead of the Jan. 30 government funding deadline, in hopes of having it included in any funding bill.
Still, other industry stakeholders cautioned that the rescheduling order will not help the makers of products containing synthetic THC that are being marketed as true hemp.
Despite what some see as an apparent contradiction, Chris Lindsey, vice president for state policy and advocacy at the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, said Trump was endorsing a narrow legislative fix for true CBD companies, but not the ones "that are basically operating as if they're marijuana companies."
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Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said Friday it is launching an investigation into Seattle Children's Hospital over its gender-affirming care for transgender minors, the latest escalation in the Trump administration's attempts to end the practice nationwide. In a post on the social platform X, the HHS said the hospital had been referred to the Office of Inspector General for "failure to meet professional recognized … |
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A federal judge has temporarily paused West Virginia's ban on artificial dyes in foods before it can take effect, granting a request from an additive industry group. U.S. District Judge Irene Berger of the Southern District of West Virginia earlier this week granted a motion for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by the International Association of Color Manufacturers … |
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A key GOP senator is expressing optimism that Republicans and Democrats will agree to a deal that would extend expiring health care subsidies, but the effort faces an uphill climb in winning the backing of leaders in both parties. Without a deal, health insurance premiums are projected to spike by double digits next month, yet Senate leaders John Thune (R-S.D.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) each have reasons to shy away from backing a bipartisan deal ... |
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Branch out with a different read: |
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American Academy of Pediatrics sues RFK Jr. over funding cuts |
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the nation's largest professional organization of doctors who treat children, said Wednesday it is suing the Trump administration after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) abruptly terminated nearly $12 million in federal grants to the group. The organization says seven longstanding grants were cut in retaliation for its outspoken opposition to HHS Secretary Robert F. … |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- Flu cases climb to highest levels in New York City in a decade (The New York Times)
- Montana records another flu death, rising cases and hospitalizations (Daily Montanan)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- How weight-loss drugs are reshaping fitness gyms (Axios)
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