Shutdown bill includes ban of hemp beverages

WASHINGTON D.C. (WDEF) – The bill to reopen the government also will shut down hemp beverages at the convenience store.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell added a provision to the shutdown compromise that has nothing to do with the shutdown.

He says it closes a “hemp loophole” in the Farm Bill.

The provision prohibits Delta-8 products and other synthetic hemp items that have more than 0.3% of THC.

The most common products on the market now are beverages you can buy in the store.

That’s why the convenience store industry lobbied against it.

They would prefer that the government regulate their products instead of banning them.

The ban will not take affect for another year, so changes could still be made to the law.