Kentucky Farmer Faces Uncertain Future Over New THC Limit
In Henry County, farmer Mark Roberts gave WLKY a tour of his hemp operation at Pleasure View Farms. Roberts and his family have worked the same land in Pleasureville for nearly six decades, continuing a multigenerational farming tradition that once relied heavily on corn, soybeans, and tobacco.
From Tradition to Diversification
After Senator Mitch McConnell championed the federal legalization of hemp through the 2018 Farm Bill, Roberts saw the crop as a pathway to diversify his farm’s income and address the substantial debt that many farmers carry today. “If it’s a young farmer or an older farmer like I am, we have tremendous debt, and we have to have something to pay for that debt to keep the land,” he explained.
New Regulation Sparks Concern
Roberts’ optimism has been tempered by a recent provision added to the federal budget bill, also led by McConnell, that would cap the allowable THC content in any hemp product at 0.4 milligrams per container. He described the potential impact as “disgusting,” noting that after years of refining production methods and securing reliable markets, the rule could undercut the progress made by legitimate growers.
McConnell argues that the amendment closes a loophole exploited by manufacturers who convert legal amounts of THC into intoxicating products marketed to children in candy‑like packaging. He contended that the language “nearly classifies the original intent of the 2018 farm bill, rooting out the bad actors and protecting the growing hemp industry,” and noted that the measure had the backing of President Donald Trump and 39 state attorneys general.
Industry Pushback
The Kentucky Hemp Association, joined by several local farmers, protested the change outside McConnell’s Louisville office. While the group acknowledges the need for safeguards against misleading products, it argues that the 0.4 mg threshold is so low that virtually all current hemp‑derived goods—except pure CBD isolate—would become illegal.
Annie Rouse, founder and CEO of CannaBuzz in Lexington, warned that “a limit so low that the only product that could be legally sold is CBD isolate, which the FDA has already made abundantly clear, is an approved pharmaceutical ingredient and therefore cannot be legally sold as a dietary supplement.” She added that such a rule could erase a decade‑long regulatory framework built to support the sector.
The association estimates that Kentucky’s hemp industry contributes roughly $330 million to the state economy, sustains more than 3,000 jobs, and supports nearly 1,600 small businesses. Roberts and his peers hope that Congress will revisit the provision before it takes effect in a year’s time, targeting the manufacturers producing misleading, candy‑styled products rather than penalizing responsible farmers.
For the full WLKY report, see Here.
