WASHINGTON, DC—Last year, a bipartisan group of 76 senators voted to close a loophole that originated in the 2018 farm bill and led to the proliferation of kid-friendly Hemp THC products across the nation. Today, under pressure from the Hemp industry and the White House, the Senate voted to delay implementation of this ban until December, risking more young people being harmed by these dangerous products.
“The Trump Administration and Senate leadership just put gas station weed over our kids. They decided the corporate balance sheet of the people selling THC candies is more important than the health of America’s families. A year ago, Congress looked at the flood of intoxicating hemp products getting kids high and sending people to the emergency room, and it voted overwhelmingly to shut that loophole down. President Trump signed the legislation into law. Now he’s reversing course and doing the industry’s bidding. The White House and the Senate blinked. They chose to keep products on store shelves that they would never want their own children to buy, use, or bring home. That’s not leadership. It’s shameful.” said SAM CEO Dr. Kevin A. Sabet. “Any delay in implementing this ban is a betrayal of the American people and of all those who will continue to be hurt by the proliferation of these kid-friendly THC products.”
“Over the next five months, SAM and our partners will make sure voters in every state know exactly who chose to protect gas station THC over their own children,” Sabet added. “We are grateful to Senator Ted Budd for his leadership, along with his co-sponsors, in trying to stop this deal with the Devil. The senators who played a part in allowing this delay will hear from parents, law enforcement, in their local newspapers, and in their own backyards until this ban takes effect. They voted to end this loophole last year. We will hold them to it. December 11 is coming, and we will be counting the days and the votes.”