Governor Tony Evers Calls for Revision of Federal Hemp Law Affecting Wisconsin
Economic Concerns Highlighted
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Governor Tony Evers is urging Wisconsin’s congressional delegation to work with federal lawmakers to adjust a new hemp regulation slated to take effect in November 2026.
In a letter sent Monday, Evers asked representatives to pursue a legislative solution that preserves a science‑based definition of hemp while avoiding unnecessary economic harm.
Officials from the governor’s office estimate that, without changes, the law could jeopardize roughly $700 million in economic activity and about 3,500 jobs statewide.
THC Limit and Product Reclassification
The forthcoming rule sets the permissible THC content in hemp products at 0.4 milligrams per container, a threshold that would require many currently legal items to be re‑classified.
State officials warn that such re‑classification could dismantle existing business models, leading to store closures, layoffs, and lost investment.
Agricultural and Community Impacts
Medical and recreational marijuana remain illegal in Wisconsin, despite previous efforts by the Evers administration to legalize them.
As of November 2025, the state hosted 470 federally licensed hemp producers, many of whom may be forced to cease cultivation if the law stands unchanged.
Evers’ letter notes that hemp‑related enterprises currently support around 3,500 workers and generate approximately $700 million in economic output, with particular concern for rural communities that rely on this sector.
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