House Votes to Delay Hemp Ban
The Continuing Resolution provision moves the hemp ban from November 12 to December 11.
Sep 02, 2026 | 2 min read
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) this week that will fund the federal government through December 11.
The CR includes a provision that delays the impending hemp ban, which would outlaw products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC that is derived from hemp. The provision was previously set to take effect on November 12, and it is now set to take effect on December 11. The Senate voted to delay the hemp ban in August. The president is expected to sign the CR into law shortly.
The delay applies only to natural hemp products. Synthetic products would still be prohibited as of the original November 12 date. NACS has actively encouraged Congress to delay the hemp ban. Doing so provides more time to develop a regulatory framework that allows for legal, safe sales of products containing hemp-derived THC to adults. These products are an important category for convenience stores, which have experienced significant demand for THC beverages and other products from adult customers.
“The convenience retail channel, with its well-established age verification procedures, is suited to selling hemp products to adults legally and responsibly,” said Jon Taets, NACS director of government relations. “We look forward to working with Congress on a solution that not only protects children in our communities but also supports small businesses."
For c-store operators, the hemp-derived THC category could offer significant sales and growth opportunities, particularly in states that have passed legislation to regulate these products.
[Read more about intoxicating hemp beverages in “A Seed of Opportunity” from the August 2025 issue of NACS Magazine.]
Read more about advocacy for hemp-derived products here.
