U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, and U.S. Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX) introduced the Hemp Enforcement, Modernization, and Protection (HEMP) Act. This new measure is intended to create the pathway for federal regulation of cannabidiol (CBD) products. The bill creates a first-of-its-kind federal regulatory framework for hemp-derived (or CBD) products intended for human use within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Currently, hemp-derived businesses operate with no federal guidance, causing states to adopt differing regulations of hemp-derived products. This has created a patchwork of state laws, essentially allowing for a wild west market for these products and raising serious public health concerns.
Griffith’s HEMP Act is designed to create a future for American hemp products. By creating this pathway, it will bring regulatory certainty and allow for safer products to be sold in the United States.
This bill only regulates hemp-derived products and not cannabis. In fact, cannabis is explicitly prohibited from being regulated through this pathway in the draft.
Following bill introduction, Griffith said, “Despite raising repeated concerns about the ongoing confusion regarding the safety, consumption and sale of CBD-containing products until a discussion draft of this bill was circulated, I believe we have yet to see meaningful progress at the federal level.
“I am proud to lead the effort in the House along with Representative Veasey to present a path forward for the federal regulation of CBD products. After discussions with stakeholders, federal officials and other relevant authorities, I believe the HEMP Act is a positive step forward to deliver federal clarity to the American hemp landscape, protecting consumers and providing a stable marketplace for legitimate producers.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues, the Trump Administration and the FDA to perfect this bill,” he added.
Griffith’s measure follows months of circulating a discussion draft to receive input from industry leaders, stakeholders and agencies.
Under the HEMP Act, the FDA must initiate a rulemaking process to set milligram limits of CBD products. If the FDA fails to release a final rule within three years of the measure’s enactment, federal law will automatically establish CBD intoxicating limits of 5 milligrams per serving and 30 milligrams per package.
Griffith is also a co-sponsor to H.R. 7024, the Hemp Planting Predictability Act. Federal policy related to the hemp industry was impacted by the November 2025 government funding package, which included a provision that virtually bans intoxicating hemp products. This provision is set to take effect in November 2026. The Hemp Planting Predictability Act is designed to protect American hemp farmers from what is virtually a ban on hemp products by providing a two-year extension.
Since the 116th Congress, Griffith has worked to encourage the FDA to regulate hemp-derived products.
In fact, in September 2022, Griffith helped lead a letter with then-Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie to express frustration over President Biden’s FDA and their inaction in regulating CBD products.
