"McConnell's Masterstroke: How the Senate Leader Helped Bring Down the Hemp Industry"
A shocking revelation has emerged about how US Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) inadvertently dealt a devastating blow to the burgeoning hemp industry. The Republican leader championed both the legalization of hemp in 2018 and a new law that de facto bans psychoactive hemp products, effectively rendering the entire industry obsolete.
At first glance, it appears that McConnell's actions were aimed at protecting the growing hemp industry from unscrupulous companies exploiting loopholes in the law. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that his intentions may have been more sinister than initially thought. The new law sets a THC limit of 0.4 milligrams per container, far too low to feel any buzz, and specifically targets psychoactive compounds like delta-8 THC.
Industry insiders are reeling as the reality of this provision sinks in, with some businesses on the brink of collapse. Lukas Gilkey, co-founder and CEO of Hometown Hero, an Austin-based hemp business employing 200 people across three locations and two states, warns that if the law is allowed to go into effect, it will "game over" for his company.
McConnell's justification for the new law may have seemed reasonable at first – "restoring the original intent" of the 2018 farm bill – but the reality on the ground paints a far more alarming picture. The hemp industry has grown exponentially since 2018, with sales estimated to be over $28 billion in 2023. However, with this latest development, many are left wondering if Congress is attempting to destroy the very industry it's supposed to protect.
Farmers and business owners like Whitney Guager, who runs Caprock Family Farms in Texas, remain optimistic despite the odds. They point to the public's growing support for hemp products, which they argue have already been shown to change people's lives. However, experts like Robert Mikos, a professor at Vanderbilt University, warn that lawmakers may face pushback from those arguing that psychoactive hemp products were always a mistake.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: McConnell's decision has sent shockwaves through the industry, leaving its future hanging in the balance. Will lawmakers step in to salvage what remains of the hemp business, or will this be yet another unintended consequence of their actions? Only time will tell.
A shocking revelation has emerged about how US Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) inadvertently dealt a devastating blow to the burgeoning hemp industry. The Republican leader championed both the legalization of hemp in 2018 and a new law that de facto bans psychoactive hemp products, effectively rendering the entire industry obsolete.
At first glance, it appears that McConnell's actions were aimed at protecting the growing hemp industry from unscrupulous companies exploiting loopholes in the law. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that his intentions may have been more sinister than initially thought. The new law sets a THC limit of 0.4 milligrams per container, far too low to feel any buzz, and specifically targets psychoactive compounds like delta-8 THC.
Industry insiders are reeling as the reality of this provision sinks in, with some businesses on the brink of collapse. Lukas Gilkey, co-founder and CEO of Hometown Hero, an Austin-based hemp business employing 200 people across three locations and two states, warns that if the law is allowed to go into effect, it will "game over" for his company.
McConnell's justification for the new law may have seemed reasonable at first – "restoring the original intent" of the 2018 farm bill – but the reality on the ground paints a far more alarming picture. The hemp industry has grown exponentially since 2018, with sales estimated to be over $28 billion in 2023. However, with this latest development, many are left wondering if Congress is attempting to destroy the very industry it's supposed to protect.
Farmers and business owners like Whitney Guager, who runs Caprock Family Farms in Texas, remain optimistic despite the odds. They point to the public's growing support for hemp products, which they argue have already been shown to change people's lives. However, experts like Robert Mikos, a professor at Vanderbilt University, warn that lawmakers may face pushback from those arguing that psychoactive hemp products were always a mistake.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: McConnell's decision has sent shockwaves through the industry, leaving its future hanging in the balance. Will lawmakers step in to salvage what remains of the hemp business, or will this be yet another unintended consequence of their actions? Only time will tell.
he was all for hemp and then just kinda ruined it for everyone... 0.4 milligrams is super low to get any buzz at all, idk if that was ever the plan 
some ppl are gonna lose their jobs or businesses 'cause of this law, that's not cool 
and now everyone's stuck trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces. 2018 he's all for it, then 2023 he changes the rules and suddenly it's game over? that's not exactly genius, more like careless 
. It's kinda frustrating that lawmakers can't even get this right. I mean, if they're trying to help farmers and businesses like Lukas Gilkey, why did they make it so hard for them? 
The public seems to be behind hemp products, which is awesome, but now it looks like Congress might be holding them back 
. What do you guys think? Should they step in and fix this or was McConnell just playing the long game? 
... I mean, McConnell was all for it at first and then BAM! this law comes out and it's like he's trying to sabotage the entire industry 
. I get that he wants to protect people from psychoactive stuff, but 0.4 milligrams? That's super low, right? 
And all these small businesses are going to lose everything 
... it's just not right. I mean, I know some people might be worried about the whole psychoactive thing, but come on, hemp has been around for centuries and we've never had any major issues with it 
... maybe they should've just set a higher limit or something? 
. I mean, hemp was supposed to be all good and stuff, you know? And now it seems like Mitch McConnell's been playing them against each other the whole time 
. I hope lawmakers can find a way to fix this before it's too late 
. Maybe they should've thought that one through before making those changes 
. So, Mitch McConnell's "masterstroke" has basically decimated an industry that was just getting started 
.
. But for now, I'm just gonna sit here and shake my head