Michigan Hemp Alert: White House Calls for Hemp Fix, But Congress Must Still Act
Michigan hemp farmers, CBD retailers, processors, and consumers have reason to pay attention right now. The White House has formally asked Congress to reconsider the federal hemp crackdown tied to Section 781 of Public Law 119-37 — a provision that, if left unchanged, could take effect in 2026 and broadly restrict hemp-derived cannabinoid products across the country.
This is a lifeline, not a final victory. Congress still must act.
What the White House Is Asking For
The Trump White House has opened the door to a hemp fix by urging Congress to revise or delay the sweeping restrictions on hemp-derived products before they cause irreversible harm to farmers, retailers, processors, and the millions of consumers who depend on full-spectrum CBD and similar products.
As Mike Brennan reported at MITechNews, the White House is pushing Congress to reconsider the federal hemp crackdown, offering a potential reprieve to Michigan and Ohio businesses that could be harmed by broad restrictions on hemp-derived cannabinoid products.
The full story, context, and analysis are laid out in detail in the iHemp Michigan foundation article: White House Calls for Hemp Fix: Why Michigan Businesses Need Regulation, Not Prohibition.
Why This Matters for Michigan
Michigan has a growing and legitimate hemp industry. Businesses such as Thumb Coast CBD, Lakeland Hemp, and Ag Marvels show the range of farmers, retailers, product makers, processors, and service providers that can be affected when federal policy is written too broadly.
These are not fringe operations. They are part of Michigan's agricultural and small business economy. If Congress enacts a broad federal hemp restriction without distinguishing between intoxicating products and non-intoxicating full-spectrum CBD, the collateral damage to compliant Michigan businesses and consumers will be significant.
The Right Policy: Regulation, Not Prohibition
Dave Crabill of iHemp Michigan put it plainly:
"Let's not throw out the baby with the bath water. Intoxicating hemp should have its own lane. Full-spectrum CBD is not intoxicating even at a few milligrams per serving."
That is the core message. Intoxicating hemp products — high-dose delta-8, delta-9, and similar compounds — should face age restrictions, testing requirements, honest labeling, and child-resistant packaging where appropriate. That is reasonable. That is responsible.
But full-spectrum CBD with trace amounts of THC is not the same product. It is used by seniors, veterans, wellness consumers, and people managing pain and sleep who have no interest in intoxication. Treating those products the same as high-potency intoxicants is a policy failure, not a policy solution.
As Blain Becktold has stated:
"Michigan hemp businesses are not asking for a free-for-all. We support clear rules, honest labels, third-party testing, child-resistant packaging where appropriate, and age restrictions for intoxicating products. What we cannot support is a federal shortcut that destroys compliant hemp businesses and cuts consumers off from non-intoxicating CBD products."
Regulation, not prohibition. That is the standard Michigan hemp stakeholders are asking Congress to meet.
What Still Has to Happen
The White House opening the door is meaningful. It is not enough on its own.
Congress still must act. The specific provisions of Section 781 require legislative changes or a delay. Without congressional action, the crackdown moves forward regardless of what the White House has said. That means Michigan stakeholders — farmers, processors, retailers, CBD brands, and consumers — need to make their voices heard now, while there is still time to influence the outcome.
This is not a partisan issue. The hemp industry includes Republicans and Democrats, rural and urban stakeholders, small family farms and small retail businesses. Congress needs to hear from all of them.
What Michigan Hemp Stakeholders Should Do
Contact your U.S. Representative and both Michigan U.S. Senators. Ask them to:
- Support a federal hemp fix that distinguishes between intoxicating and non-intoxicating hemp products
- Protect children through age restrictions and testing requirements without banning adult access to full-spectrum CBD
- Require third-party testing and honest labeling across all hemp-derived products
- Preserve access for farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers who have built or relied on a legitimate hemp market
- Reject a federal shortcut that punishes responsible businesses for the actions of bad actors
Responsible hemp businesses should not be punished for the actions of bad actors. Protect children without destroying adult access. Intoxicating hemp should have its own lane. Full-spectrum CBD should not become collateral damage.
Congress still must act. Michigan needs to speak up.
For the full analysis and national context, read the iHemp Michigan foundation article: White House Calls for Hemp Fix: Why Michigan Businesses Need Regulation, Not Prohibition.