Hemp Policy & Industry Update Center

 

Last updated: December 3, 2025

Here you will find the most up-to-date information on the current state of the Hemp industry at the federal and state level.

A lot is happening in the hemp and cannabis world, and quickly. Much of it directly impacts the products you rely on for relief, relaxation, sleep, creativity, or good vibes.

We believe in transparency within every aspect of our business, including laws. Laws shouldn’t be confusing, and consumers deserve clarity. This page exists to:

• Break down legislation in plain language
• Keep you informed about federal and state updates
• Explain how these bills may impact availability
• Share what we are doing to protect access

We will update this page as legislation evolves, so check back often or join our email list for alerts.

Current Status of Hemp

Federal: Ban Imminent - A new federal law signed by the President now redefines “legal hemp” and bans most hemp-derived intoxicating products nationwide, starting November 2026. 

Wisconsin: Regulation in Motion - State bills aim to create a regulated market instead of banning the industry.

Federal Legislation & Regulatory Updates

What Federal Law Says Today

Under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is federally legal if it contains: 0.3% Delta-9 THC or less on a dry weight basis.

This bill made the Hemp industry what it is today and is why you can buy the product you know and love, legally.

What is Changing

Buried inside the funding bill to reopen the government, slime ball Senator Mitch McConnell inserted language that redefines legal hemp by capping THC at 0.4mg per container.

Here's what this cap will do once enforced:

• Wipe out 95%+ of the current hemp industry
• Destroy a $30+ billion market overnight
• Eliminate more than 350,000 American jobs
• Ban CBD, Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC, THCA, and countless other products consumers rely on

This isn't regulation, it is prohibition disguised as "policy". 

This language will impact farmers, processors, retailers, jobs, and safe consumer access to these products nationwide.

What This Means for Consumers

If nothing changes before November 2026, here's what to expect:

• Minimal product availability. Most products on the market will disappear or be reformulated to meet the new regulations, eliminating effectiveness.
• Higher prices in legal states as demand shifts from hemp to recreational cannabis
• No more interstate shipping. We will no longer be able to ship our products.
• Loss of safe, tested products.

This ban will push consumers back to the unregulated black market or forces them to cross state lines into recreational states, exposing them to legal risks and potential criminal charges.

What Steve's Hemp Is Doing

• Contacting lawmakers to advocate for sensible regulations
• Educating consumers and legislators
• Offering testimony
• Participating in advocacy groups and coalitions
• Continuing to produce safe, lab tested products

We will do everything in our power to fight for sensible, science-based regulation, not prohibition.

Wisconsin Legislative Updates

Wisconsin is currently debating at least three major hemp bills, each with very different outcomes for businesses and consumers:

1. The Three-Tier Distribution Bill

This bill would treat hemp much like alcohol by requiring:

• Manufacturers → Distributors → Retailers → Consumers

Small businesses would no longer be allowed to produce and sell their products directly. Instead, they would be forced to pay third-party distributors, (alcohol distributors would be grandfathered in for licensing...) adding significant costs, reducing margins, and diminishing access for small producers like us.

2. The Total THC Bill

This proposal mirrors recent federal language and would regulate hemp based on total THC content, not Delta-9 THC alone.

If passed, this would:

• Create new potency limits (not in our favor)
• Eliminate many current hemp products
• Make compliance extremely difficult for farmers

This version risks over-regulation that punishes small operators without actually improving safety.

3. Wisconsin Senate Bill 682

SB 682 aims to create a regulated, adult-use hemp marketplace with:

• 21+ age restrictions on all products
• Packaging and testing standards
• Enforcement against bad actors in the industry
• Non-resealable THC beverages are capped at 10mg per serving and 2 servings max  - 20mg total per container.

Unlike the other two proposals, SB 682 does not add licensing burdens or force small businesses into costly distribution structures. It attempts to regulate the market responsibly rather than dismantle it.

We are very much in support of SB 682 as it will protect the hemp industry within Wisconsin, keeping us business as usual. Please fill out the form below to help push this bill through!

What's Next in Wisconsin

Bills are expected to:

• Continue committee hearings
• Undergo amendments
• Move toward potential vote in early 2026

We will update this section as action occurs.

How Wisconsin Customers Are Affected

Right now, nothing changes for you. Our products remain legal and available.

Our Commitment to You

Regardless of legislative outcomes, our values remain unchanged:

• Transparent labeling
• Independent lab testing on each product
• Age-restricted access
• Small-batch manufacturing
• Customer safety first

Steve’s Hemp is a locally owned, community-driven business. We are real people helping real people, and we’re committed to protecting your access to products that are honest, clean, transparent, and safe.