Mitch McConnell and Andy Harris are currently pulling the wool over Americans’ eyes with their latest rendition of their crusade to ban hemp
Washington, DC – In a backroom maneuver conducted behind closed doors, major Congressional leaders, including Sen. Mitch McConnell and Rep. Andy Harris are attempting to insert provisions into must-pass spending legislation that would eliminate the entire market for hemp-based consumable products in the United States.
Unfortunately for prohibitionist leaders McConnell and Harris, the industry and press will continue to sound the alarm for Americans. Currently, the Mitch-Andy measures are being slammed through the appropriations process without open dialogue with the industry or constituents.
While the members may think they are being sly, there’s no doubt that the language threatens to:
- Destroy a $70 billion sector of the American economy overnight.
- Terminate employment for hundreds of thousands of workers nationwide.
- Strip access from countless Americans — such as veterans and seniors — who depend on legal hemp products for health and wellness.
Hemp industry leaders have repeatedly advocated for a thoughtful, common-sense regulatory framework that ensures product safety and consumer protection. Instead of engaging with these good-faith proposals, Congressional leaders are pursuing an extreme approach that would shut down the entire industry signed into law by President Trump in the 2018 Farm Bill.
“The hemp industry has been at the table, ready to work on responsible regulations such as 21 & up and no marketing to children,” said HIFA Executive Director Brian Swensen. “What we’re seeing instead is a complete disregard for collaboration from members like McConnell and Harris who should instead consider real solutions championed by their colleagues like House Oversight Committee Chairman Comer.”
Recent data showcases a clear consensus among American voters, with support spanning the political spectrum against such sweeping prohibitions.
This legislative gambit extends far beyond business concerns. The proposed prohibition would directly harm military veterans managing post-traumatic stress, elderly Americans seeking natural pain relief alternatives, and countless individuals who have found legal hemp products to be an effective wellness solution. Members should be forewarned that Americans won’t forget who tried to implement a prohibition on a legal industry – and hardworking farmers and small business owners.
About Hemp Industry & Farmers of America (HIFA): HIFA is a nonpartisan coalition of hemp industry advocates representing the interests of all sectors – from farmers, veterans, and manufacturers to retail stores.
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