Federal Proposal to Ban THC in Hemp Sparks Concern Among Georgia Businesses

Georgia’s hemp future hangs in the balance as federal regulators eye a controversial policy shift.

According to a 2024 University of Georgia economic impact report, hemp contributes an estimated $150 million annually to the state’s tax revenue—a figure that underscores just how vital this industry has become. But that progress may soon be reversed.

Joe Salome, co-founder of The Georgia Hemp Company™, warns that if federal lawmakers move forward with this proposed change, the consequences could be devastating.

“What we can’t have is more disruptions,” said Salome. “Each state already faces its own hurdles, and business owners are doing everything they can to navigate them. A federal rollback like this would seriously damage a billion-dollar industry that’s been built responsibly over the past seven or eight years.”

Joe Salome, co-founder of The Georgia Hemp Company™

For the many rural farmers who transitioned to hemp as a sustainable crop, the impact would be immediate and damaging. Likewise, hundreds of small businesses—many woman-owned or minority-owned—could be forced to shut their doors due to a loss of viable product options.

Even more critically, medical patients and wellness consumers who depend on full-spectrum CBD, CBN, and other cannabinoid-based remedies could lose access entirely if those products are disqualified by a zero-THC policy.

The only thing currently preventing this policy from moving forward? The federal government shutdown.

But that pause is temporary. Once Congress resumes business, this proposal could be back on the table—and Georgia’s hemp community needs to be ready.

Industry leaders, advocacy organizations, and concerned citizens are already organizing to push back against the proposed regulation. The message is clear: science, not stigma, should guide hemp policy. The 0.3% THC limit was established based on rational agricultural science, and moving to a zero limit would not only be arbitrary—it would be economically catastrophic.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Skip to content