McConnell’s Hemp Crackdown Collides With Retail THC Boom: Big Brands, 39 AGs, and Congress Face a ‘Hemp War’ (Nov. 6, 2025)
Why this matters now The seven‑year experiment that legalized hemp (2018 Farm Bill) has morphed into a high‑stakes fight over hemp‑derived intoxicants such as delta‑8, delta‑10, THCA and other cannabinoids. Today, big CPG and alcohol interests publicly pressed Congress to close the “hemp loophole,” while states tightened rules or imposed temporary bans. At the same time, major retailers are normalizing low‑dose THC beverages on mainstream shelves—accelerating a consumer trend that regulators haven’t caught up with. Marijuana Moment+3Marijuana Moment+3Just Drinks+3 What changed today Big brands step in. The Consumer Brands Association (CBA)—whose member list includes household names—asked lawmakers to adopt appropriations