Kansas hemp growers and processors warn that new federal restrictions targeting intoxicating hemp products threaten their investments and the state’s once-promising hemp industry. The upcoming changes could reshape rural economies and force businesses to rethink their strategy.

A federal funding bill signed by President Donald Trump includes language banning most hemp-derived THC beverages after November 2026. The move threatens the booming “cannabis drink” category and forces beverage companies to prepare now for reformulation, pivoting, or shutdown.

Rep. Nancy Mace has introduced draft legislation aimed at reversing the new federal ban on intoxicating hemp products. The proposal could offer major relief to the $28 billion hemp-THC sector, which was blindsided by the ban buried in the government-funding deal.

Dozens of state attorneys general have urged Congress to ban or clarify intoxicating hemp-derived THC products, citing safety concerns and enforcement challenges. This coordinated push signals tightening regulations ahead — and rising compliance risks for hemp operators nationwide.