15 Important Things To Know About The 2026 Hemp Ban: And Why We Should All Be Calling Our Representatives

The clock is ticking and as quickly as the years speed by I feel there is no time to waste hoping things get better for our industry. Hoping the president reschedules (descheduling is the only REAL solution) or hoping they don't ban hemp... No, the time for hoping is over.

Below are a few talking points to educate yourself and others on why this industry must be saved and how the hemp ban will cause irreparable damage to hundreds of thousands employees, families, and even more patients.

1. The hemp-derived cannabinoid industry supports more than 328,000 American jobs. A recent national economic analysis found that 328,000+ workers are employed across the hemp cannabinoid supply chain — including farmers, lab workers, processors, retailers, delivery drivers, designers, marketers, and compliance teams.

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2. Hemp-derived products generate nearly $28.8 billion in consumer sales annually. These are wellness products Americans are actively choosing for sleep, pain relief, stress management, and mental well-being.

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3. The broader economic impact of hemp exceeds $79 billion.

When including upstream and downstream businesses — packaging, testing labs, distributors, logistics, agriculture, design, and retail — the hemp-derived cannabinoid sector contributes over $79 billion to the U.S. economy.

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4. Over 70% of hemp businesses are small, independent, family-operated companies. This is not a corporate-dominated space. It is Main Street, not Wall Street.

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5. The hemp market serves millions of consumers who do not have access to legal cannabis. In many states, hemp products are the only accessible wellness option, especially for:

• seniors

• veterans

• pain patients

• low-income communities

• rural populations

6. Federal hemp restrictions may limit access for an estimated 45 million adults who currently use CBD or hemp-derived cannabinoids. Consumer surveys estimate that 1 in 6 American adults uses hemp-derived wellness products regularly.

7. The 2025 hemp definition threatens U.S. agriculture: over 90,000 acres of hemp farmland may lose commercial viability. Farmers who invested in genetics, equipment, and infrastructure now face extreme uncertainty ahead of the 2026 hemp ban enforcement date.

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8. Seeds and genetics — a multi-hundred-million-dollar sector — are at risk. The North American hemp seed market is estimated at $427 million annually, and many of these genetics will fall outside the 2025 federal definition.

9. More than 4,000 hemp retailers could close as enforcement begins in late 2026. Thousands of small stores depend on hemp-derived wellness sales for the majority of their revenue.

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10. Hemp is one of the nation's fastest-growing wellness markets. CBD alone accounts for $6–$7 billion in annual retail sales, and minor cannabinoids represent the fastest-growing segment of plant-based wellness in the U.S.

11. Restricting hemp does not eliminate demand — it pushes consumers back into unregulated markets. Consumers will simply shift to unsafe, untested, or illicit alternatives, which creates unnecessary public health risks.

12. The law disproportionately harms vulnerable people who rely on hemp. Millions use hemp to manage:

• chronic pain

• insomnia

• anxiety

• PTSD

• menopause symptoms

• inflammatory conditions

Restricting hemp without creating alternatives removes support from people who need it most.

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13. Keeping hemp accessible reduces strain on healthcare systems. Studies show that many consumers use hemp as an alternative to:

• prescription sleep medications

• anxiety medications

• pain medications

Reduced access increases healthcare costs and pharmaceutical dependency.

14. Hemp restrictions contradict federal goals of supporting small farmers. Over 75% of hemp farms are small family operations. Restricting hemp seeds and cultivars undermines U.S. agricultural stability and innovation.

15. Descheduling cannabis is the most effective long-term solution.

Hemp and cannabis are the same plant. A unified regulatory framework would:

• protect access

• improve safety

• support research

• protect farmers

• reduce enforcement costs

• strengthen economic resilience​

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