A living resource from MCRO: your go-to for Farm Bill updates, hemp law changes, and what it all means for your MCROdosing experience.

This is a live document. We update this page as new legislation, state-level changes, and federal rulings happen. Bookmark it, come back to it, and know that MCRO is tracking every move so you don’t have to. Scroll to the bottom for the latest updates.

What Is the Farm Bill?

The Farm Bill is one of the most significant and far-reaching pieces of legislation in the United States. First enacted in 1933 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal to address the lingering effects of the Great Depression, the Farm Bill has been renewed and reauthorized 18 times since its inception. It covers a massive range of topics: agricultural subsidies, nutrition assistance programs like SNAP, conservation initiatives, crop insurance, rural development, and, critically for us, the regulation of hemp.

Congress typically revisits the Farm Bill every five years, making it a recurring legislative event that shapes the future of American agriculture and the industries connected to it. For the hemp and cannabis space, the Farm Bill has been nothing short of transformative.

The 2018 Farm Bill: A Turning Point for Hemp

On December 20, 2018, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill, was signed into law. This was a landmark moment. The bill redefined hemp as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis” (Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, P.L. 115-334, §10113).

What that means in plain English: hemp was officially taken off the Schedule I controlled substances list, where it had been lumped in alongside heroin and other narcotics since 1970 under the Controlled Substances Act. For the first time in decades, farmers could legally cultivate hemp as an ordinary agricultural commodity, and businesses could produce and sell hemp-derived products including CBD and, as the market would later discover, hemp-derived delta-9 THC products.

Key Provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill

• Removed hemp from Schedule I: Hemp and its derivatives, extracts, and cannabinoids were no longer treated as controlled substances under federal law, provided they stayed at or below 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis.

• Created the Domestic Hemp Production Program: States and tribal authorities could submit plans to the USDA for primary regulatory authority over hemp production within their borders. If a state didn’t submit a plan, federal oversight applied.

• Opened up federal crop insurance and USDA grants: Hemp farmers became eligible for the same federal support programs available to other agricultural producers.

• Protected interstate commerce: The bill included a provision that no state or tribe could prohibit the transportation or shipment of hemp or hemp products through their territory if the hemp was produced legally.

• Preserved FDA authority: The bill did not override the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, meaning the FDA retained its authority over hemp-derived products marketed with health claims.

• Gave states the right to be stricter: A savings clause allowed states to impose regulations on hemp production more stringent than the federal baseline including outright bans if they chose.

The bill was championed by then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who introduced the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 and worked to incorporate its provisions into the larger Farm Bill. Representative James Comer (R-KY) introduced a companion bill in the House. The effort had strong bipartisan support, backed by organizations including the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Farmers Union, and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

What the 2018 Farm Bill Meant for the Hemp Industry

The impact was massive and immediate. After the bill’s passage, the U.S. hemp market exploded. Farmers across the country, many of them former tobacco growers looking for new opportunities, transitioned into hemp cultivation. CBD became a household name seemingly overnight, and an entirely new category of hemp-derived cannabinoid products followed: delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC edibles and beverages, THCA flower, and more.

By 2025, the intoxicating hemp-derived product market alone was valued at approximately $28.4 billion and supported an estimated 300,000 jobs nationwide, generating roughly $1.5 billion in state tax revenue (Frier Levitt, “Federal Redefinition of Hemp,” March 2026). The broad language of the 2018 Farm Bill, specifically, its focus on delta-9 THC concentration alone, unintentionally created an opening for products that contained other psychoactive cannabinoids or that kept their delta-9 levels below the threshold while still delivering intoxicating effects.

This is the legal landscape that allowed companies like MCRO to exist and innovate: crafting low-dose, hemp-derived delta-9 THC gummies paired with functional mushrooms and natural ingredients, all while staying compliant with the federal definition of hemp.

What the Farm Bill Means Nationwide

The Farm Bill’s hemp provisions created a patchwork of state-level approaches. While the federal law set the floor, states could and did go further with their own regulations. Some states embraced the hemp market with open arms and created robust regulatory frameworks, licensing systems, age-gating requirements, potency limits, and testing mandates. Minnesota, for example, built a regulated hemp market that federal legislators have pointed to as a model for how state-level regulation can address safety concerns without blanket prohibition.

Other states took a more restrictive stance. North Dakota, for instance, prohibited hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids like delta-8 THC. Some states like Idaho and parts of the Southeast maintained tight controls on any cannabis-adjacent products. The result was a complicated map where your ability to buy a legal hemp-derived gummy depended entirely on which state you were standing in.

Still, the overarching federal framework meant that businesses producing compliant hemp products, like MCRO’s 2.5mg and 5mg delta-9 THC gummies or our 1G hemp-derived vape pens, could operate and ship products across state lines where allowed, backed by the legal protections of the 2018 Farm Bill.

What the Farm Bill Means for MCRO

MCRO was built on the foundation that the 2018 Farm Bill created. Our products, hemp-derived delta-9 THC gummies in precise, predictable microdoses paired with functional mushrooms and natural ingredients, exist because the law removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act and established a clear legal framework for products containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC.

Our 2.5mg and 5mg Regular edibles and 10mg Extra Strength edibles are all formulated with hemp-derived delta-9 THC at compliant levels. Our 1G rechargeable disposable vape pens  Tropical Citrus (sativa) and Mixed Berry (indica) contain hemp-derived THC-A, CBD, and other cannabinoids within legal parameters. Every product we make is designed to deliver simple, safe, and predictable effects while adhering to the legal definitions set by the Farm Bill.

We source all of our hemp from licensed Colorado farms holding valid USDA Hemp Producer Licenses, and every product undergoes rigorous third-party testing. Transparency and compliance aren’t marketing buzzwords for us, they’re how we operate, and they’re directly tied to the regulatory framework the Farm Bill established.

Farm Bill Timeline: Key Dates

Our Promise to You

Look, we know this sh!t is complicated. The legal landscape around hemp is changing fast, and it can feel impossible to keep up. That’s why we made this a living document. We’re not going to leave you guessing.

As legislation moves, as states act, as federal agencies issue guidance, we’ll update this page. We’ll tell you what changed, when it changed, and what it means for you and for MCRO products. 

MCRO has always been about transparency, and that doesn’t stop at our ingredient lists. If the rules change, you’ll hear it from us first. If there’s something you need to know about the products you love, we’ll break it down for you. That’s Team MCRO.

Live Updates

This section is updated as new developments occur. Newest updates appear first.

April 30, 2026  —  House Passes 2026 Farm Bill Without Hemp Product Relief

The U.S. House voted 224-200 to pass the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. The bill redefines hemp using total THC (including THCA) at 0.3% but does not delay or repeal the November 2026 consumable product ban. Bipartisan amendments to delay the ban were withdrawn before reaching a floor vote. The bill now heads to the Senate, where hemp advocates are pushing for action. White House officials sent policy suggestions to Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), signaling the administration's interest in a regulatory framework rather than outright prohibition. (Sources: Cannabis Business Times; Marijuana Moment, April 30, 2026)

April 16, 2026  —  Hemp Safety Enforcement Act Introduced in the Senate

Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act, a bill that would let states "opt out" of the federal intoxicating hemp product ban. States that opt out must enforce a minimum purchase age and maintain the ban on synthetic cannabinoids. The bill also protects interstate commerce between opt-out states. Endorsed by the VFW of Kentucky, U.S. Hemp Roundtable, and Hemp Beverage Alliance. (Source: Senator Rand Paul's office, April 2026)

April 10-28, 2026  —  Texas Hemp Rules Blocked by Court Order

A Travis County district judge granted a temporary restraining order blocking new Texas DSHS rules that effectively banned smokable hemp products and changed THC measurement standards to a total THC threshold. The rules also hiked manufacturer licensing fees from $258 to $10,000 per facility. The TRO was extended through at least May 1, with hearings ongoing. Industry plaintiffs argue the state agencies overstepped their authority by rewriting statutory definitions of hemp. (Sources: Houston Public Media; ABC13; FOX 7 Austin, April 2026)

March 5, 2026  —  2026 Farm Bill Advances Without Hemp Product Relief

The House Agriculture Committee voted 34-17 to advance the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. The new Farm Bill tightens the definition of hemp plants to use total THC (including THCA) at 0.3%, but it does not include any provisions to delay or repeal the consumable product ban set for November 2026. Committee Chairman Thompson maintained that regulating finished hemp products falls outside the Agriculture Committee’s jurisdiction. An amendment from Rep. Baird to delay the ban was withdrawn before being voted on. The fight now shifts to standalone legislation like the Hemp Planting Predictability Act and potentially the House Energy and Commerce Committee. (Source: Cannabis Business Times, March 2026)

February 10, 2026  —  FDA Misses Cannabinoid Guidance Deadline

The November 2025 law required the FDA to publish, within 90 days of enactment, comprehensive lists of naturally occurring cannabinoids, THC-class cannabinoids, and clarification on the term “container” as it relates to the 0.4mg product threshold. The February 10 deadline passed without publication, leaving the industry with significant uncertainty about which compounds and product formats will be affected. (Source: VetsGrade / Industry Tracking, March 2026)

January 13–15, 2026  —  Bipartisan Hemp Planting Predictability Act Introduced

Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) introduced the Hemp Planting Predictability Act (H.R. 7024) in the House on January 13, co-sponsored by Reps. Comer (R-KY), Craig (D-MN), Evans (R-CO), and Moore (R-NC). A Senate companion bill followed on January 15, introduced by Senators Klobuchar (D-MN), Paul (R-KY), and Merkley (D-OR). The bill would delay the November 2026 hemp ban by two years to November 2028, giving farmers and businesses time to adjust. The bill currently has 15 co-sponsors in the House. (Source: Cannabis Business Times; Marijuana Moment, January 2026)

November 12, 2025  —  Federal Hemp Definition Amended; Product Ban Signed Into Law

President Trump signed the FY2026 Agriculture Appropriations Act (P.L. 119-37), which included Section 781 amending the federal definition of hemp. The new definition shifts from a delta-9 THC-only standard to a “total THC” metric (including THCA), bans synthetic and converted cannabinoids like delta-8 THC and HHC, and caps finished consumer products at 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. These provisions take effect November 12, 2026. The hemp industry, valued at approximately $28.4 billion, faces the most significant federal policy shift since the 2018 Farm Bill’s original passage. Multiple states including Ohio, Florida, and Illinois have since begun pursuing their own bans or regulatory overhauls in response. (Sources: Vicente LLP; DLA Piper; Saul Ewing LLP; Arnold & Porter, November–December 2025)

December 21, 2024  —  2018 Farm Bill Extended a Second Time Through FY2025

Congress enacted the American Relief Act, 2025 (P.L. 118-158), extending the 2018 Farm Bill for a second year through September 30, 2025 and the 2025 crop year. No changes were made to hemp definitions or regulations. Both the House and Senate had introduced their own versions of a five-year Farm Bill reauthorization during 2024, including proposed shifts to total THC standards—but neither advanced before the end of the legislative session. (Source: Congress.gov; Foley Hoag LLP, January 2025)