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Peptides Are Exploding. Payments Isn’t Ready. The Research-Peptide Market Is Growing Faster Than the Infrastructure Built to Underwrit...
Craig Thran invested $2,000 in hemp farming on his eight-acre Plymouth, Wisconsin property in 2019, tapping into his childhood agricultural roots. This year, his company 3 Tall Pines reached nearly $5 million in sales, selling vape pens, flower, and THC-infused edibles in around 200 stores while employing 30 people. Now, just as his business hits its stride, the recent federal funding bill threatens to eliminate the industry entirely.
The sweeping funding bill that ended the federal government shutdown this month included provisions that essentially ban hemp-derived products, threatening to kill a $28 billion industry employing approximately 300,000 people nationally, according to CNBC. The new law closes a loophole created by the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed alternative forms of marijuana—delta-8, THCP, HHC, and THCA—derived in varying degrees from hemp.
The federal restrictions dramatically reduce the THC limit in hemp products to 0.4 milligrams per container, effectively banning most CBD products and leaving only those containing virtually no THC and industrial hemp. The law takes effect in November 2026, giving businesses one year to become compliant or reverse the legislation.
The rapid rise of hemp-derived products, which are almost entirely unregulated and widely available, raised significant public health concerns. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation last year found hemp-derived products were causing a sharp rise in reports of children and adults getting sick. In June, a four-year-old Milwaukee child was hospitalized after accidentally eating delta-8 sour gummy worms, prompting the city to restrict hemp product sales to people 21 and older.
However, many consumers say they're grateful for legal cannabis alternatives that help with anxiety, pain, and sleeplessness, creating tension between public health protection and consumer access.
Wisconsin's hemp industry isn't conceding defeat. Kind Oasis, a Milwaukee-based dispensary and manufacturer, recently formed the Wisconsin Coalition for Cannabis Reform to advocate for both cannabis and hemp legalization. Spokesperson Mike Handal emphasized that many hemp businesses want regulation, particularly to prevent children from accessing products.
"All we've been asking for the last several years is sensible regulations," Handal said, noting Kind Oasis supports statewide age restrictions and third-party lab testing requirements for safety.
Justin Hopf, owner of Sheboygan-based hemp drink company Drinkin' Buds, which sold close to a million drinks this year, supports efforts to require lab testing, set age limits, and mandate licenses for manufacturers and retailers. His drinks contain 5 to 10 milligrams of THC per can—levels that will become illegal under the new law. "There would be no way for us to sell hemp-based products," Hopf said.
Courtney Moran, an attorney who helped draft the 2018 Farm Bill, said the 0.4 milligram THC limit blindsided the industry. It remains unclear how Congress settled on this figure, as there weren't committee hearings or discussion on the provision, according to Moran. However, she noted members of Congress have been looking to regulate the industry due to public health risks, especially for children.
"Congress is making it very clear that what's happening in the marketplace is not going to continue," Moran said, urging the industry to present "well thought out, rational" proposals that address congressional concerns.
If the hemp ban isn't reversed, Thran estimates he'll have to lay off 80% of his employees at 3 Tall Pines. He's developing a backup plan involving mushrooms—specifically, genetically modified psilocybin mushrooms with the psychedelic components removed. These "psilocybin-free" mushrooms, already available on his website, are an emerging trend in smoke shops in states like Florida. Thran says they're fully legal, non-intoxicating, and provide energy and focus.
Despite his contingency planning, Thran remains hopeful. "We have a year to fix the law," he said.
Whether the federal hemp ban stands or falls, businesses operating in this space face unprecedented pressure to demonstrate product safety, accurate labeling, and rigorous quality controls. Third-party testing, age verification systems, and transparent supply chain documentation are no longer optional—they're survival requirements. Qredible's Q-Trust platform helps hemp and cannabis businesses implement comprehensive quality management systems, automated Certificate of Analysis tracking, and compliance monitoring that meets evolving regulatory standards at both state and federal levels. Contact Qredible today to learn how our solutions can help your business navigate regulatory uncertainty while building the trust that consumers, retailers, and lawmakers demand.
