Politics makes strange bedfellows and add in cannabis and you got some interesting news
In a dramatic turn this week, a GOP Senator rides to the rescue of hemp.  While as a party they haven’t lined up support cannabis and hemp, GOP Senator Rand Paul (R‑KY) successfully blocked a proposed federal ban on hemp-derived THC products had been inserted into a critical spending bill on agriculture and related funding. The provision sought to redefine hemp by capping total THC—including delta‑8, delta‑10, and THCA—rather than just delta‑9 THC, effectively outlawing most edible hemp products
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Paul argued the language would “destroy hemp farmers in my state” and devastate an emerging national industry, threatening thousands of jobs and billions in revenue. Kentucky, once a leading tobacco-growing state, has become a national leader in hemp production—generating tens of millions annually in cultivation, processing, and manufacturing jobs. His intervention represents a major victory for hemp advocates.
The hemp-derived THC market in the U.S.—centered on delta‑8, delta‑10, and similar compounds—jumped nearly 1,283% from 2020 to 2023, rising from $200.5 million to approximately $2.8 billion. Meanwhile, the broader U.S. legal cannabis (marijuana) industry reached roughly $38.5 billion in 2024, expected to climb to over $44 billion in 2025.
Globally, the industrial hemp market—including fiber, seeds, food and wellness applications—is estimated at $6.6 billion in 2024, and projected to hit $25–26 billion by 2034. North America is a hub for both cannabis and hemp, with legal cannabis valued at $26.6 billion in 2024 and forecast to grow over 10‑fold to $285 billion by 2034.
Industry stakeholders emphasize hemp’s unique position: it’s federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, so long as delta‑9 THC remains under 0.3%. Federal safety net distinguishes hemp‑THC products from marijuana, which remains federally illicit despite many states permitting recreational or medical use.  Hemp has become increasingly popular, in Texas, Bayou City Hemp Company, the parent of Bayou Beverage, has taken hemp‑derived THC drinks mainstream.
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Senator Paul’s move reflects the intersection of politics, agriculture, and emerging consumer markets. As lawmakers weigh the future of hemp‑THC regulation, the broader cannabis industry—and its relationship with alcohol and public policy—continues its rapid evolution.
