A last-minute provision added to the newly passed government funding bill could have a profound impact on the hemp industry.

The legislation to end the record 43-day shutdown included language banning the sale of certain hemp-derived products, including consumables like gummies and beverages. The ban applies to any products with more than 0.4 milligrams of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

The provision would close the “THC loophole” in the 2018 Farm Bill and re-criminalize products that exceed approved THC levels. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who authored the Farm Bill, led the charge to implement the hemp ban to address the “u nintended consequence ” of the loophole.

The provision was met with a fierce outcry from Congress members and the hemp industry, which could

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