As Congress battles over whether to delay sweeping new federal hemp restrictions, a Colorado hemp executive with family ties to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is drawing increased scrutiny over his role in the effort.
Bret Worley, 30, is the CEO of MC Nutraceuticals and a board member of Hemp Industry & Farmers of America, an organization lobbying Congress on hemp policy. Worley married Caroline Wiles, Susie Wiles’ younger daughter, in June at the Trump Winery in Charlottesville, Virginia, according to reporting from the Denver Gazette.
The connection comes as the Trump administration backs language in a Senate funding bill that would postpone most new restrictions on hemp-derived cannabinoid products from November 12 to December 11.
Under the proposal, cannabinoids that cannot naturally be produced by the cannabis plant would still lose their status as federally legal hemp on November 12. However, the broader changes, including a 0.4-milligram total THC-per-container limit expected to prohibit most currently available hemp THC products and many nonintoxicating products, would be delayed by roughly one month.
The White House has pushed senators to maintain the extension, with President Donald Trump personally contacting U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), who is seeking to remove it. Budd’s amendment was ruled germane by the Senate parliamentarian, meaning it could pass with a simple majority rather than requiring 60 votes.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), meanwhile, announced Thursday that he supports the extension, calling it “common sense” and saying the additional time would allow Congress and the administration to negotiate more substantial hemp legislation.
Against that backdrop, the Denver Gazette reports that Worley has been directly involved in industry efforts to prevent the broader restrictions from taking effect as scheduled.
The newspaper also uncovered allegations contained in a July 2025 federal lawsuit brought by a North Carolina hemp manufacturer against Worley and his companies. The lawsuit alleges Worley touted his political connections and claimed that, through his relationship with Caroline Wiles, he could indirectly help secure political appointments and other favors.
The same lawsuit questioned whether Worley had exaggerated his political influence to boost his standing in the hemp industry and attract investors. There is no evidence that Susie Wiles provided Worley with political appointments or other favors.
The White House has also denied that Wiles personally lobbied members of Congress over the hemp provisions.
“The chief of staff has never lobbied in favor of this or any other position on hemp with Capitol Hill,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai told the Denver Gazette.
U.S. Representative Andy Harris (R-MD), a leading opponent of delaying the restrictions, has criticized Worley’s involvement and questioned the appearance created by his family connection to Wiles.
Harris said he did not know what Wiles discussed during recent meetings with senators, but said his impression was that the push for an extension was coming from the White House, including its legislative affairs and domestic policy operations.
MC Nutraceuticals has publicly celebrated the inclusion of the delay. In a newsletter cited by the Denver Gazette, the company credited industry advocacy for the development and said another push would come before the end of the year as supporters seek permanent changes to federal hemp policy.
Worley and companies associated with him have separately faced enforcement actions in Colorado.
In 2025, Worley, his father Jeff Worley and their companies agreed to pay $50,000 to resolve a consumer protection investigation by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. The investigation found that the companies misrepresented aspects of their products, including their source, quality, ingredients and health benefits, according to settlement documents.
The companies later agreed to pay another $75,000 after the attorney general alleged they violated provisions of the original agreement, bringing the combined penalties to $125,000.
The dispute over the temporary extension remains unresolved. If Budd’s amendment receives 50 votes, the one-month delay would be removed and the broader federal hemp restrictions would remain scheduled to take effect November 12.
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