Part of new, bad, Senate deal is to ban THC nationally! [View all]
Senators shot down an attempt by Sen. Rand Paul to eliminate language in their shutdown-ending deal that the Kentucky Republican argues will destroy the booming hemp industry.
The amendment was blocked on a 76-24 vote with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Paul as the lone GOP senators in favor of proceeding, along with 22 Democrats.
The vote comes after Pauls monthslong fight with senior appropriators Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) over a provision that would crack down on intoxicating hemp products that were legalized through the 2018 farm bill.
The amendments failure clears the path for lawmakers to vote on final passage of a funding package that moves Congress closer to ending the record-breaking government shutdown. Paul told reporters that his amendment wasnt designed to hold things up, but to protect the hemp business thats blossomed in Kentucky since 2018.
My goal is to condense the time, have one vote, express my displeasure with them screwing up an entire industry, and people will feel ... theres at least been somebody fighting, Paul said.
The vote also marked the first time in years that senators were forced to take a public stance on how the government should regulate THC and hemp products.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/11/10/congress/senators-reject-pauls-hemp-plans-00646064
Will congress stop this? I hope so.