WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House leaders struck a blow for long-overdue sanity in U.S. drug laws.
The House Appropriations Committee released its FY 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill. Included in the legislation’s base text is language banning dangerous hemp-derived THC products, including Delta-8 THC. The Appropriations Committee highlighted the measure and said the provision “supports the mandate of the American people.” This language is identical to the Farm Bill amendment closing the Delta-8 THC loophole led by Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15). The subcommittee will meet seeking to advance the bill June 5, and the full Appropriations Committee will mark up the bill on June 11.
Dr. Kevin Sabet, President and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, released the following statement about the Delta-8 THC ban’s inclusion in the base text:
“Every American worried about their kids’ access to THC-laced candy and other dangerous products should take a moment to smile today. The Appropriation Committee’s decision to include a ban on dangerous hemp-derived THC products in the Agriculture Appropriations bill is a crucial victory in the long fight to ban hemp intoxicants. We applaud Appropriations Chair Tom Cole for his support of the ban. It truly does reflect ‘the mandate of the American people,’ who have been harmed by the addiction industry’s eager misuse of the Delta-8 loophole.
“That industry took advantage of a legal gray area around Delta-8 and created a massive market for unregulated drugs to hook new users using THC edibles, vapes and other products. Today’s text release shows clearly that it was never the intention of Congress to create this unfettered market for addictive drugs.
“Rep. Cole, Subcommittee Chair Andy Harris and the rest of the lawmakers who have fought for this ban deserve the highest praise for coming to the defense in the strongest way possible of families and public safety via the inclusion of the ban in the bill’s base text.
“SAM is honored to have played a key role in highlighting the importance of this issue for our lawmakers and providing guidance to them on the best way forward. We hope to see this provision advance through Congress and get sent to the President’s desk.”
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