We need to rewrite as news article meeting constraints: start directly with lead paragraph (no heading before). Use
Amendment Withdrawals
Rep. James Comer (R‑KY) withdrew his proposal to delay the ban until November 2027, after the House Rules Committee refused to place Rep. Mary Miller’s (R‑IL) accelerated measure on the agenda.
Comer’s amendment, cosponsored by Reps. Kelly Morrison (D‑MN), Ilhan Omar (D‑MN) and Morgan Griffith (R‑VA), would have extended the deadline to protect jobs and allow Congress time to craft labeling, testing and enforcement standards.
Miller’s plan would trigger the ban automatically when the new Farm Bill is enacted, though the timing of that legislation remains uncertain.
Comer told a Monday panel that his amendment “protects American farmers” and “supports thousands of jobs in the hemp industry and users of these products.” He added that Congress needs more time to eliminate bad actors and standardize product information.
Griffith, a Rules Committee member, warned that many overseas hemp products lack third‑party testing, calling them “garbage,” and urged FDA regulation through a separate bill he introduced.
Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Barr (R‑KY) filed an amendment to revise the hemp definition, create a regulatory framework, ban synthetics and ensure products are American‑origin; he later withdrew the proposal without explanation.
White House officials sent Barr a letter containing draft legislative language and comments on defining hemp‑derived cannabinoid products, noting the president’s executive order to protect CBD access. The attachment has not been released, and the White House and Barr’s office have not responded to inquiries.
Other Legislative Activity
Rep. Jim Baird (R‑IN) previously filed a delay amendment that the Agriculture Committee deemed non‑germane to the Farm Bill.
The Farm Bill approved by the prior committee includes provisions that update state and tribal industrial hemp regulatory plans, requiring testing, sampling, background checks and record‑keeping.
Senators Rand Paul (R‑KY), Amy Klobuchar (D‑MN) and Joni Ernst (R‑IA) introduced the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act, which would let states opt out of the federal recriminalization set for later this year; Ernst later removed herself as a cosponsor.
A USDA report released this month showed farmers produced $750 million worth of hemp in 2025, a 64 percent increase over the previous year.
The Trump administration launched a Medicare program that covers up to $500 annually of hemp‑derived products for eligible patients, focusing on CBD but allowing limited THC. Anti‑marijuana groups sued, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Director Mehmet Oz filed a brief to dismiss the case.
CMS finalized a rule allowing certain hemp products to be covered through Medicare Advantage plans, while the FDA issued guidance stating it will not interfere with the Medicare hemp coverage plan.
Major retailer Target expanded its hemp‑derived THC beverage sales in Minnesota after a successful pilot, obtaining licenses to sell low‑potency THC edibles, including drinks, at all 72 state stores.
Now count words. Let’s approximate quickly.
I’ll count each paragraph.
Paragraph1: “Congressional attempts to pause or accelerate the federal recriminalization of hemp THC products will not be debated on the House floor this week.” Words: Congressional(1) attempts2 to3 pause4 or5 accelerate6 the7 federal8 recriminalization9 of10 hemp11 THC12 products13 will14 not15 be16 debated17 on18 the19 House20 floor21 this22 week23. So 23 words.
Paragraph2 heading not counted as words? It’s a heading but still words. We’ll count headings as part of article; they are not paragraphs but still part of word count. However likely fine. Let’s count headings separately.
Amendment Withdrawals
words: Amendment1 Withdrawals2 -> 2 words.
Paragraph3: “Rep. James Comer (R‑KY) withdrew his proposal to delay the ban until November 2027, after the House Rules Committee refused to place Rep. Mary Miller’s (R‑IL) accelerated measure on the agenda.” Count: Rep.1 James2 Comer3 (R‑KY)4 withdrew5 his6 proposal7 to8 delay9 the10 ban11 until12 November 2027,13 after14 the15 House16 Rules17 Committee18 refused19 to20 place21 Rep.22 Mary23 Miller’s24 (R‑IL)25 accelerated26 measure27 on28 the29 agenda30. 30 words.
Paragraph4: “Comer’s amendment, cosponsored by Reps. Kelly Morrison (D‑MN), Ilhan Omar (D‑MN) and Morgan Griffith (R‑VA), would have extended the deadline to protect jobs and allow Congress time to craft labeling, testing and enforcement standards.” Count: Comer’s1 amendment,2 cosponsored3 by4 Reps.5 Kelly6 Morrison7 (D‑MN),8 Ilhan9 Omar10 (D‑MN)11 and12 Morgan13 Griffith14 (R‑VA),15 would16 have17 extended18 the19 deadline20 to21 protect22 jobs23 and24 allow25 Congress26 time27 to28 craft29 labeling,30 testing31 and32 enforcement33 standards34. 34 words.
Paragraph5: “Miller’s plan would trigger the ban automatically when the new Farm Bill is enacted, though the timing of that legislation remains uncertain.” Count: Miller’s1 plan2 would3 trigger4 the5 ban6 automatically7 when8 the9 new10 Farm11 Bill12 is13 enacted,14 though15 the16 timing17 of17? Wait careful: “the timing” -> the17 timing18 of19 that20 legislation21 remains22 uncertain23. So 23 words.
Paragraph6: “Comer told a Monday panel that his amendment “protects American farmers” and “supports thousands of jobs in the hemp industry and users of these products.” He added that Congress needs more time to eliminate bad actors and standardize product information.” Count: Comer1 told2 a3 Monday4 panel5 that6 his7 amendment8 “protects9 American10 farmers”11 and12 “supports13 thousands14 of15 jobs16 in17 the18 hemp19 industry20 and21 users22 of23 these24 products.”25 He26 added27 that28 Congress29 needs30 more31 time32 to33 eliminate34 bad35 actors36 and37 standardize38 product39 information40. 40 words.
Paragraph7: “Griffith, a Rules Committee member, warned that many overseas hemp products lack third‑party testing, calling them “garbage,” and urged FDA regulation through a separate bill he introduced.” Count: Griffith,1 a2 Rules3 Committee4 member,5 warned6 that7 many8 overseas9 hemp10 products11 lack12 third‑party12? Wait third‑party counted as one word. So 12? Let’s recount: Griffith, (1) a (2) Rules (3) Committee (4) member, (5) warned (6) that (7) many (8) overseas (9) hemp (10) products (11) lack (12) third‑party (13) testing, (14) calling (15) them (16) “garbage,” (17) and (18) urged (19) FDA (20) regulation (21) through (22) a (23) separate (24) bill (25) he (26) introduced (27). So 27 words.
Paragraph8: “Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Barr (R‑KY) filed an amendment to revise the hemp definition, create a regulatory framework, ban synthetics and ensure products are American‑origin; he later withdrew the proposal without explanation.” Count: Meanwhile,1 Rep.2 Andy3 Barr4 (R‑KY)5 filed6 an7 amendment8 to9 revise10 the11 hemp11? Wait “hemp” 11, definition,12 create13 a14 regulatory15 framework,16 ban16 synthetics17 and18 ensure19 products20 are21 American‑origin;22 he23 later24 withdrew24? Actually “withdrew” is 24, the25 proposal26 without27 explanation28. Let’s recount carefully:
“Meanwhile,” (1)
“Rep.” (2)
“Andy” (3)
“Barr” (4)
“(R‑KY)” (5)
“filed” (6)
“an” (7)
“amendment” (8)
“to” (9)
“revise” (10)
“the” (11)
“hemp” (12)
“definition,” (13)
“create” (14)
“a” (15)
“regulatory” (16)
“framework,” (17)
“ban” (18)
“synthetics” (19)
“and” (20)
“ensure” (21)
“products” (22)
“are” (23)
“American‑origin;” (24)
“he” (25)
“later” (26)
“withdrew” (27)
“the” (28)
“proposal” (29)
“without” (30)
“explanation.” (31)
31 words.
Paragraph9: “White House officials sent Barr a letter containing draft legislative language and comments on defining hemp‑derived cannabinoid products, noting the president’s executive order to protect CBD access. The attachment has not been released, and the White House and Barr’s office have not responded to inquiries.” Count:
White1 House2 officials3 sent4 Barr5 a6 letter7 containing8 draft9 legislative10 language11 and12 comments13 on14 defining15 hemp‑derived16 cannabinoid17 products,18 noting19 the20 president’s21 executive22 order23 to24 protect25 CBD26 access.27 The28 attachment29 has30 not31 been32 released,33 and34 the35 White36 House37 and38 Barr’s39 office40 have41 not42 responded43 to44 inquiries45. 45 words.
Paragraph10 heading: “
Other Legislative Activity
” words: Other1 Legislative2 Activity3 -> 3 words.
Paragraph11: “Rep. Jim Baird (R‑IN) previously filed a delay amendment that the Agriculture Committee deemed non‑germane to the Farm Bill.” Count: Rep.1 Jim2 Baird3 (R‑IN)4 previously5 filed6 a7 delay8 amendment9 that10 the11 Agriculture12 Committee13 deemed14 non‑germane14? Wait counting: Committee13 deemed14 non‑germane15 to16 the17 Farm18 Bill19. So 19 words.
Paragraph12: “The Farm Bill approved by the prior committee includes provisions that update state and tribal industrial hemp regulatory plans, requiring testing, sampling, background checks and record‑keeping.” Count: The1 Farm2 Bill3 approved4 by5 the6 prior7 committee8 includes9 provisions10 that11 update12 state13 and14 tribal15 industrial16 hemp17 regulatory18 plans,19 requiring20 testing,21 sampling,22 background23 checks24 and25 record‑keeping26. 26 words.
Paragraph13: “Senators Rand Paul (R‑KY), Amy Klobuchar (D‑MN) and Joni Ernst (R‑IA) introduced the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act, which would let states opt out of the federal recriminalization set for later this year; Ernst later removed herself as a cosponsor.” Count: Senators1 Rand2 Paul3 (R‑KY),4 Amy5 Klobuchar6 (D‑MN)7 and8 Joni9 Ernst10 (R‑IA)11 introduced12 the13 Hemp14 Safety15 Enforcement16 Act,17 which18 would19 let20 states21 opt22 out23 of24 the25 federal26 recriminalization27 set28 for29 later30 this31 year;32 Ernst33 later34 removed35 herself36 as37 a38 cosponsor39. 39 words.
Paragraph14: “A USDA report released this month showed farmers produced $750 million worth of hemp in 2025, a 64 percent increase over the previous year.” Count: A1 USDA2 report3 released4 this5 month6 showed7 farmers8 produced9 $750 million10 worth11 of11? Wait “of” is 11, hemp12 in13 2025,14 a15 64 percent15 increase16 over17 the18 previous19 year20. So 20 words.
Paragraph15: “The Trump administration launched a Medicare program that covers up to $500 annually of hemp‑derived products for eligible patients, focusing on CBD but allowing limited THC.” Count: The1 Trump2 administration3 launched4 a5 Medicare6 program7 that8 covers9 up10 to11 $50012 annually13 of14 hemp‑derived15 products16 for17 eligible18 patients,19 focusing20 on21 CBD21? Wait we already have focusing; let’s recount: focusing1? Actually after “patients,” then “focusing”21, “on”22 “CBD”23 “but”24 “allowing”25 “limited”26 “THC”27. So total: Let’s recount more systematically.
“The”1
“Trump”2
“administration”3
“launched”4
“a”5
“Medicare”6
“program”7
“that”8
“covers”9
“up”10
“to”10? Wait we already have “to” as word 10. Let’s redo.
Let’s list:
The(1)
Trump(2)
administration(3)
launched(4)
a(5)
Medicare(6)
program(7)
that(9?) Actually “that” is 8? Let’s re-evaluate: after “program” (7), then “that” (8), “covers” (9), “up” (10), “to” (11), “$500” (12), “annually” (13), “of” (14), “hemp‑derived” (15), “products” (16), “for” (17), “eligible” (18), “patients,” (19), “focusing” (20), “on” (21), “CBD” (22), “but” (23), “allowing” (24), “limited” (25), “THC.” (26).
So 26 words.
Paragraph16: “Anti‑marijuana groups sued, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Director Mehmet Oz filed a brief to dismiss the case.” Count: Anti‑marijuana1 groups2 sued,3 and4 HHS5 Secretary6 Robert7 F.8 Kennedy9 Jr.10 and11 CMS12 Director13 Mehmet14 Oz15 filed16 a17 brief18 to19 dismiss20 the21 case22. 22 words.
Paragraph17: “CMS finalized a rule allowing certain hemp products to be covered through Medicare Advantage plans, while the FDA issued guidance stating it will not interfere with the Medicare hemp coverage plan.” Count: CMS1 finalized2 a3 rule4 allowing5 certain6 hemp7 products8 to9 be10 covered11 through12 Medicare13 Advantage14 plans,15 while16 the15? Wait “while” is 16, “the”17, “FDA”18, “issued”19, “guidance”20, “stating”21, “it”22, “will”23, “not”24, “interfere”25, “with”26, “the”27, “Medicare”28, “hemp”29, “coverage”30, “plan”31. So 31 words.
Paragraph18: “Major retailer Target expanded its hemp‑derived THC beverage sales in Minnesota after a successful pilot, obtaining licenses to sell low‑potency THC edibles, including drinks, at all 72 state stores.” Count: Major1 retailer2 Target3 expanded4 its5 hemp‑derived6 THC7 beverage8 sales9 in10 Minnesota11 after11? Wait “after” is 10? Let’s recount.
“Major”1
“retailer”2
“Target”3
“expanded”4
“its”5
“hemp‑derived”6
“THC”6? Actually “THC” is 6? Wait we have “its” then “hemp‑derived” (6), “THC” (7), “beverage” (8), “sales” (9), “in” (10), “Minnesota” (11), “after” (12), “a” (13), “successful” (14), “pilctliel
