FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: June 4, 2025

CONTACT:
Aaron Smith, CEO and Co-Founder
(888) 683-5650
Media@TheCannabisIndustry.org

Proposed Ban on Hemp THC Would Fuel Illicit Market and Undermine Public Safety
NCIA urges Congress to follow science and public opinion, not failed drug war policies, as two-thirds of voters support a legal, regulated cannabis market.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is urging lawmakers to reject language in a proposed House Appropriations bill that would redefine hemp to ban any product containing a “quantifiable” amount of THC. Instead, NCIA calls on Congress to prioritize sensible federal regulations for all cannabinoid products — whether derived from marijuana or hemp

Rather than reinstating failed prohibitionist policies, Congress should act swiftly to establish clear, science-based regulations that ensure these products are manufactured and sold safely, transparently, and are restricted to adults over 21. An outright ban on hemp-derived THC would undermine legitimate businesses and create a major windfall for the illicit market by pushing these widely used products into unregulated criminal channels.

“Hemp-derived THC products are already widely available across the country. Despite legislators’ intent, this budget provision won’t change that fact, but it will ensure these products are made and sold without oversight, delivering a big win to the drug cartels at the expense of public health and safety,” said NCIA CEO and Co-founder Aaron Smith. “Congress should empower federal agencies to regulate these products responsibly, not double down on prohibitionist policies that have already proven to be failures both in practice and in the court of public opinion.”

Public support for cannabis reform continues to grow. Polling consistently shows more than two-thirds of U.S. voters — including majorities across every major demographic — support ending federal prohibition and creating a legal, regulated marketplace for adult-use cannabis.

The total size of the U.S. hemp-derived cannabinoid market was estimated to be $28.4 billion in 2023, according to a report from leading cannabis economics firm, Whitney Economics. This is roughly the same size as the nation’s craft beer industry — underscoring the scale and economic significance of this emerging sector.

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The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is the largest cannabis trade association in the U.S. and the only organization representing small and independent cannabis-related businesses at the national level. NCIA promotes the growth of a responsible and legitimate cannabis industry and works toward a favorable social, economic, and legal environment for that industry in the United States.