Rand Paul Proposes Bill to Triple Federal THC Limit for Hemp Amid House Push to Restrict Consumable Cannabinoids

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Published on June 26, 2025

As the hemp industry voices concerns over congressional efforts to prohibit most consumable cannabinoid products, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has introduced a bill to increase the legal THC limit in hemp threefold while addressing other regulatory challenges faced by the sector.

The legislation, named the Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan (HEMP) Act, was filed last week and aligns with similar proposals Paul has championed in recent years.

Hemp and its derivatives were legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, but the industry has faced numerous obstacles since. The rise of intoxicating cannabinoid products has prompted Congress and state legislatures to push for tighter regulations on the largely unregulated market.

In contrast, Paul’s bill seeks to address a key industry grievance: the current federal definition of hemp, which caps THC at 0.3 percent by dry weight. Stakeholders argue this threshold is too restrictive. The HEMP Act would raise the limit to 1 percent.

The proposal also tackles issues with testing requirements under U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules. Currently, hemp processors have a 15-day window to test the crop’s flower for THC compliance, a process farmers find burdensome due to resource constraints and external factors affecting THC levels. The bill would shift testing to final hemp products rather than raw flower.

Additionally, the legislation introduces documentation standards for transporting hemp to prevent law enforcement from mistakenly seizing legal shipments as illicit marijuana. Instead of requiring a lab certificate proving THC levels below 1 percent, as in Paul’s 2020 version, transporters could now carry a copy of the hemp producer’s license to verify legality.

While the hemp industry supports Paul’s proposal, it remains wary of a separate GOP-led House spending bill approved this week, which stakeholders say would devastate the market by banning most consumable cannabinoid products legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill. A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report warns the measure could “effectively” criminalize hemp-derived products, including CBD.

Although recent amendments to the 2026 appropriations bill’s report language clarify an intent to preserve non-intoxicating cannabinoid markets like CBD, the bill’s provisions remain unchanged and could still disrupt the industry without further revisions.

Hemp advocates also opposed a similar provision in last year’s subcommittee bill and a 2024 Farm Bill amendment by Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), neither of which became law.

Meanwhile, the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) has urged Congress to soften the House bill’s restrictions, advocating for the continued legalization of naturally derived cannabinoids while banning synthetic THC. In April, WSWA members met with lawmakers to push for federal testing and labeling standards, state-level retail regulation, and a synthetic THC ban.

However, some key GOP lawmakers, including one who supports marijuana legalization, appear unconcerned about the spending bill’s potential to undermine the hemp industry by restricting most consumable hemp products.