Midwest Hemp Council Indiana Legislative Session Update

The Midwest Hemp Council is disappointed that the 2026 legislative session in Indiana concluded without the adoption of a reasonable, science-based regulatory framework for hemp products. For six consecutive years, our farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers have urged lawmakers to create a responsible regulatory framework for hemp products that protects public health, provides critical clarity to law enforcement and preserves lawful consumer access to hemp products that are improving the quality of life of millions of Americans around the country, including Hoosiers.

The Four Pillar framework is universally supported in the hemp industry. It establishes uniform packaging, labeling and testing standards, combined with restricting sales to adults 21 and older.

This is a balanced, enforcement-driven model designed to protect public health, provide certainty for law enforcement and ensure legitimate businesses operate in a transparent marketplace. It creates guardrails without dismantling an agricultural sector that Congress explicitly authorized. Unfortunately, the 2026 session was another opportunity missed for responsible regulations.

At the same time, we commend the Indiana General Assembly for becoming the first state in the nation to reject the flawed federal language that would have effectively recriminalized the processing of hemp and eliminated 99% of products currently available to adult consumers—including full spectrum CBD products. This language was found in SB 250 and is being advanced state-by-state by large marijuana interests seeking to collapse the hemp market and replace it with a marijuana regime that benefits a narrow set of operators to the detriment of law enforcement, small businesses, farmers and consumers.

General Assemblies around the country ought to follow Indiana’s lead and reject this flawed federal language in favor of the Four Pillar approach to the marketplace.

Our focus now turns to Capitol Hill.

First, we want to take a moment to express our sincere condolences to the Baird family on the passing of Danise. The Baird’s were married for 56 years after starting out as high school sweethearts. A true American love story.

The House Committee of Agriculture is marking up the Farm Bill today at 5 p.m. We do not expect hemp to be discussed until sometime tomorrow. In the meantime, please use MHC’s Action Center today and tomorrow to contact your members of the House Agriculture Committee to let them know you support extending the implementation of the flawed federal language.

Congressman Baird and others are leading the charge to extend the November 2026 prohibition to give Congress the needed time to establish a comprehensive federal regulatory structure that codifies the universally supported Four Pillar framework. Congressman Baird introduced a bipartisan bill, along with three original co-sponsors, to delay the implementation of the ban an additional two years in order to provide Congress time to set up clear regulations for the market and provide clarity to farmers this planting season. Since introduction, the standalone bill now has 30 co-sponors, 17 Republicans and 13 Democrats from around the country.

We will continue advocating for a system that protects public health, provides clarity for law enforcement, strengthens American agriculture and ensures consumers retain access to regulated hemp products in a lawful marketplace.