Lawmakers urge committee review after hemp rule changes placed in funding package

Representative Wiley Moore (NC) told the House Agriculture Committee that changes to the federal definition and regulation of hemp inserted into a recent government funding package were made without stakeholder input and would "effectively eliminate over 95% of North Carolina's hemp industry." Moore said the provision was added outside regular order and that hemp farmers and small businesses have invested under the previous framework. He asked the committee to examine these changes using regular order and to develop legislation that protects growers and the hemp supply chain.

Why it matters: Witnesses said the provision threatens jobs and investments in states with large hemp industries and urged the committee to hold hearings that include affected growers and state regulators.

Next steps: Members asked for the committee to reopen review and to pursue legislation that restores clarity and stability for the hemp industry; no formal committee action occurred during the member day.

Quotations in this article come from Representative Moore's member-day testimony.