A Unified Front on the Hill
Between January 21 and January 23, 2026, the halls of Congress were filled with a familiar smell: the scent of a billion-dollar industry fighting for its life. Led by the U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR), a coalition of farmers, manufacturers, and small business owners descended on Washington for a high-stakes "Congressional Fly-in." Their mission was singular: to ensure that the 0.4mg "Hemp Killing" provision, buried in the 2025 appropriations package, does not trigger a national industry collapse this November.
"We aren't here to ask for a lack of regulation," stated Jonathan Miller, General Counsel for the USHR, during a press briefing on the House steps. "We are here to ask for the time to do it right. You cannot dismantle a $28 billion economy based on a midnight amendment that no one had time to read."
The Comer Catalyst
One of the most significant moments of the week occurred during a closed-door briefing with Rep. James Comer (R-KY). As a long-standing champion for hemp farmers in Kentucky, Comer has emerged as a critical voice in the Republican caucus, urging his colleagues to view hemp not through the lens of prohibition, but as a vital agricultural commodity.
Comer’s support is crucial for the Hemp Planting Predictability Act (H.R. 7024). This bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) and Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), provides a two-year extension to the current moratorium on the hemp ban. During the fly-in, Comer emphasized that "uncertainty at the farm level is a market-killer," noting that the industry cannot wait until October to know if their products will be legal in November.
Bipartisan Alignment in a Divided House
While D.C. is often defined by gridlock, the "Hemp Fly-in" revealed surprising pockets of bipartisan alignment. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) joined forces with Republican counterparts to argue that a total ban on hemp-derived cannabinoids would disproportionately hurt seniors and veterans who rely on non-intoxicating full-spectrum products.
The primary hurdle remains the "Any Detectable THC" standard that some hardline prohibitionists still favor. However, the USHR and its allies were successful in presenting data that show 95% of currently legal CBD products would fail under the proposed 0.4mg per container cap.
Low Gravity Hemp’s Perspective
At Low Gravity Hemp, we understand that the results of this fly-in dictate our partners' purchasing power for the next 24 months. The momentum built this week is the "oxygen" the industry needs. We are encouraged by the introduction of the HEMP Act, but as Jonathan Miller noted, that bill needs the "runway" provided by the Baird-Craig extension to be perfected. We urge all our clients to stay active on the Federal Action Center to keep the pressure on.
