A federal spending bill to reopen the government includes provisions to ban many hemp-derived THC products, such as Delta-8 and hemp-based gummies and beverages. The move could devastate parts of the hemp industry and signals increasing federal intervention in cannabis regulation.

Congress’s latest budget deal would restrict hemp-derived THC products while removing provisions allowing VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana. The move tightens federal hemp oversight and highlights how cannabis reform momentum is slowing at the national level.

New York regulators have charged Omnium Canna with allegedly allowing unlicensed operators to manufacture and package cannabis under its license. The “rent-a-license” case exposes serious weaknesses in the state’s track-and-trace system and highlights why compliance and risk management are critical for cannabis operators.