A new Senate Bill would establish national standards for hemp-derived cannabinoids while preserving the authority of states to decide how products like CBD are regulated.
Sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act it set to be formally introduced tomorrow, December 11, with details of the proposal shared with The Marijuana Herald ahead of its introduction by a Senate staffer.
The legislation responds to growing concerns and uncertainty in the hemp industry following the President Donald Trump’s recent signing of a federal spending bill that prohibits most consumable cannabinoid products nationwide. Rather than imposing an outright ban, the new bill would establish a regulatory pathway that sets clear THC limits and consumer protections.
The measure would cap hemp products at 5 milligrams of THC per serving and 50 milligrams per package, with hemp beverages allowed up to 10 milligrams per package. Companies selling ingestible hemp products would need to register with the Food and Drug Administration and meet safety, labeling and age-restriction rules, including a 21+ sales requirement. The bill also bans synthetically derived cannabinoids and prohibits flavored vape cartridges.
States would retain the ability to impose stricter regulations or ban products entirely, but could not block shipments traveling through their borders. The measure also establishes a $125 million prevention grant program aimed at reducing underage use of intoxicating hemp items.
The proposal requires FDA to develop manufacturing, marketing and online sales rules within set timelines, while federal agencies study future regulation of THC-infused beverages. The bill also mandates recalls of unsafe products and expands federal data collection on cannabis use and impaired driving.
If the bill is approved by the Senate, it will need to pass the full House of Representatives before it can be considered by President Trump.
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