SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

The federal government is implementing a nationwide ban on most hemp-derived THC products as part of a newly passed spending bill. The law will prohibit products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container starting next year.

Industry executives warn that the threshold could wipe out a large part of the estimated $28 billion hemp retail market. Lawmakers say the ban targets unregulated gummies and drinks, which have fueled a rise in child poisonings.

"Little do kids know, these products are laced with intoxicating synthetic chemicals," said Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

The new cap replaces the 2018 Farm Bill’s definition of hemp, which allowed products with less than 0.3% THC by weight.

The crackdown represents a major shift from 2018, when McConnell p

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