The Hemp Ban Is Now Federal Law. Here’s What Comes Next.

The federal budget was finally signed and the government has reopened, but the damage is already done. Buried inside the appropriations package was a provision that redefines hemp at the federal level and effectively bans most hemp-derived cannabinoids. The language limits total THC content to 0.4 milligrams per container and prohibits anything deemed intoxicating or synthesized. That single paragraph is now codified into law, and the countdown has begun.

The law gives a one year grace period before enforcement begins. That may sound like time, but it is not much for an industry that supports more than 28 billion dollars of economic activity and hundreds of thousands of real jobs. Unless this is changed, nearly every product on the market today will be illegal under federal law a year from now, including ours.

That is the reality. No spin. No optimism for optimism’s sake. We are now in a full contact policy fight.

Our Position Moving Forward

Carolina Dream is not rolling over. We will be lobbying hard in the coming days, weeks, and months to push for a legislative fix. The only way to reverse this is to organize, apply pressure, and demonstrate the scale of the harm created by a blanket ban that sweeps legal, transparent, lab-tested products into the same bucket as bad actors.

We will be working with other business owners, veterans groups, scientists, state regulators, and anyone willing to stand up for a responsible, regulated hemp market. We will be meeting with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. We will be showing them exactly who is harmed by this and why it matters.

Why We're Personally So Invested

The federal government did something it has no business doing: it bypassed a real hearing process. It skipped the debate that should accompany sweeping changes to agriculture and commerce. It violated the basic spirit of Article 1 and the 10th Amendment by reaching far beyond what Congress was ever meant to handle at the federal level.

And, more importantly, it ignored the people who rely on these products every single day.

Veterans who use our Dreamer line to sleep. Parents who use Uplift to manage daily stress. Seniors who use Instant CBD to stay active. People who do not want narcotics. People who do not want alcohol. People who want something safe and predictable.

These are not fringe consumers. These are millions of Americans, many of whom have written to us directly over the years to tell us how our products changed their quality of life.

We are not letting those people go quietly.

What You Can Do Right Now

1. Get involved politically.
Call your representatives. Tell them you oppose the hemp ban as written and that you want a science-backed regulatory model, not prohibition. They need to hear from the people who will actually be harmed by this, not just legacy industries protecting their turf.

2. Support Carolina Dream directly.
Every purchase matters right now. When you buy our gummies or our "Cannabis is Not a Crime" tee shirts, you're helping us keep the lights on through a policy battle that will shape the future of this entire space. You are helping us show lawmakers how many people are affected by this decision.

3. Share this update with others.
The only reason this ban passed is because too many people had no idea it was even in the bill. Awareness changes outcomes.

We’re Not Going Anywhere

We will keep you informed as things develop. The law may be signed, but the fight is not over. Carolina Dream will stand toe to toe with Washington for as long as it takes.

Thanks for believing in us and for standing with us when it matters most.