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A new group that hides its donors is running an ad against a U.S. senator for wanting hemp rules instead of a ban. Here's what we know, what we don't, and what you can do before December 11.

In one recent count of North Carolina hemp shops, 79 out of 82 sell at least one product that federal rules will restrict starting December 11. The count covers seven counties, so it is not a statewide figure. Still, it shows how much of the hemp market in the Triangle depends on products that could be pushed out of the federal hemp definition. One local business has announced plans to close. Bloom Collective, a cafe inside the Modern Apotheca dispensary in North Raleigh, plans to close in late October, according to a News & Observer report. Its owners pointed to new federal hemp rules as the reason. What the Survey Found According to NC Newsline, a tracker run by Raleigh Dispensaries counted 82 shops across seven counties. Of those, 79 sell at least one product category affected by the federal change. The 79-of-82 figure reflects the tracker's October 10, 2026, snapshot, as reported by NC Newsline on October 12. It is a snapshot of seven counties, not a statewide survey of every North Carolina shop. The federal changes include a limit of 0.4 milligrams per consumer container for the combined amount of total THC and certain other cannabinoids with similar effects. The revised definition also applies a total-THC limit based on dry weight, including THCA, and excludes certain cannabinoids from the federal definition of hemp. The effect is not limited to intoxicating products. NC Newsline reported that CBD products, which contain small amounts of THC, could also exceed the new limit. Owners of Redhead Hemp in Durham told the paper the limit could affect all of their inventory. A Planned Closure in Raleigh Bloom Collective opened in late 2025 as a wellness cafe and boutique inside Modern Apotheca. The News & Observer reports that the cafe plans to close in late October, citing new federal hemp rules that take effect on December 11. The reporting describes the closure of the Bloom Collective cafe, not the Modern Apotheca dispensary. This closure shows businesses making plans before a state or federal framework is settled. For the owners and staff, the decision carries real costs. What the State Law Covers Right Now North Carolina has not established a comprehensive statewide regulatory framework specifically for intoxicating hemp-derived products. Existing state and federal laws may still apply to particular products. NC Newsline reported that the state currently has no age limits on hemp products that contain other types of THC, which leaves a gap in the uniform rules covering age limits and product standards. That gap is the reason lawmakers are debating a bill now. Federal law still applies in North Carolina, even without a state law that adopts the same rules. The Bill Waiting in the House House Bill 328 is the state's main proposal. According to NC Newsline and WUNC, the North Carolina Senate adopted the bill's conference report 37 to 6 on July 2, 2026. The conference report would restrict intoxicating hemp-derived products and establish age limits for hemp product sales, including products containing CBD. It also includes provisions addressing xylazine and synthetic kratom. As of October 17, 2026, the North Carolina House had not approved the conference report on House Bill 328. In August, NC Newsline reported that House Speaker Destin Hall said the House would not vote on the bill until after the November election. The official bill page shows that the conference report was referred to the House Rules, Calendar, and Operations Committee on July 30. The report remains eligible for consideration at upcoming legislative meetings. Shop owners and advocates have also pushed for a compromise bill that would keep most products legal while adding age limits. What Shoppers Should Know Ask your shop what it sells. Many shops carry CBD, THC drinks, gummies and other hemp products. Ask which items might be affected after December 11. Check the THC content on the label or lab report. Products exceeding the federal limit of 0.4 milligrams per consumer container for the combined amount of total THC and certain other cannabinoids with similar effects may no longer qualify as hemp under the revised federal definition after December 11. The Congressional Research Service summarizes the federal changes. Watch for age checks if the bill passes. North Carolina has no statewide age limit for these products right now. The House bill would set the minimum age at 21. Check compliance before buying alternatives. If a shop closes or stops carrying a product, look for alternatives early, and check each product's lab report first. Do not assume a substitute is legal. Watch for updates on House Bill 328. The House has not yet voted on the bill. What Comes Next The federal date of December 11 is separate from North Carolina's bill. If Congress changes the federal rules, the timeline could change too. AHAA supports a regulated hemp market, with clear standards that protect consumers while allowing compliant businesses to operate. That means age limits, lab testing, honest labels and restrictions on synthetic intoxicating products. Merchants and customers who want to share their experiences can use AHAA's Tell Your Story page. AHAA's position is clear: regulate it, don't eliminate it.

Square, the payment and point-of-sale company used by many small businesses, has told affected merchants to remove CBD and hemp-derived products from their catalogs by Thursday, October 15, 2026. The requirement applies to both in-person and online catalogs. The notice was sent in August, and Marijuana Moment published the email on August 7. Shops that sell other products through Square can keep selling those items, and their accounts stay open. Only the CBD and hemp items are affected. Square's deadline is separate from the federal law's implementation dates, so merchants should understand what Square is changing now, what the federal law changes later, and what steps they need to take to protect their businesses. What Square Told Merchants The email asks merchants to remove any CBD, hemp and hemp-derived items from their Square catalog, for both in-person and online sales. It also says these items will no longer be permitted on Square's platform after October 15. The email does not limit the ban to intoxicating products. It covers the broad category of CBD and hemp-derived items, so non-intoxicating CBD oils, pet products and topicals could also be removed. The email does not list specific products, which means shop owners need to check each item in their catalog rather than assume which ones are affected. Merchants with an outstanding Square Loan keep their balance and loan terms. For shops that sell other products, repayment continues as usual through their daily card sales. A Square web page that once promoted its services to hemp businesses has since been removed. The page had said Square could help merchants sell CBD online and in-store. Why Square Is Acting Before the Federal Restrictions Take Effect Square tied its decision to federal law. A company spokesperson told Marijuana Moment that a new federal law taking effect later this year places new restrictions and requirements on hemp-derived products, including those containing CBD. The spokesperson said Square is notifying affected sellers and, where possible, helping them update their catalogs. The federal change comes from a provision in the November 2025 funding law that narrows the federal definition of hemp. Under the revised schedule, most of the new restrictions take effect on December 11, 2026. Those include a limit of 0.4 milligrams per container for the combined total of THC and certain other cannabinoids with similar effects, along with restrictions on certain manufactured cannabinoids. Cannabinoids that cannot be naturally produced by the cannabis plant remain subject to the earlier November 12, 2026, effective date. Congress moved most of these dates when it passed a stopgap funding bill on September 2. The delay does not repeal the restrictions, and lawmakers would need to act again to change the schedule. For products not otherwise excluded under the provisions taking effect on November 12, the existing federal definition's 0.3 percent delta-9 THC limit on a dry-weight basis remains relevant through December 10, according to Akerman's analysis of the funding bill. The delayed restrictions do not mean every product meeting that threshold is automatically legal under all applicable laws. Square has not said whether it will move its own deadline to match the federal change. When Marijuana Moment asked whether Square might revise its policy if the federal ban is delayed or reversed, the spokesperson said the company did not have anything specific to share at that time. Which Products Are Most at Risk The 0.4-milligram total-THC limit is low enough that many currently sold hemp-derived gummies and beverages could fall outside the revised federal definition. The law also addresses certain cannabinoids with effects similar to THC and cannabinoids that cannot be naturally produced by the cannabis plant. The impact depends on each product's composition and the specific provisions that apply. Non-intoxicating CBD is less clear. Square's email covers CBD in general, not only products that get people high. Shop owners should review each product's certificate of analysis, ingredient list and formulation, and seek qualified legal guidance where a product's status is unclear. A lab report alone does not establish that a product complies with every applicable federal or state requirement. The Key Dates Shop Owners Should Know October 15, 2026: Square's deadline to remove CBD and hemp items from catalogs. November 3, 2026: U.S. Election Day. The election may shape the political debate over hemp policy, but it does not itself change the law's effective dates. November 12, 2026: The federal restrictions on synthetic cannabinoids take effect. December 11, 2026: Most remaining provisions take effect, including the 0.4 milligram per container limit and restrictions covering certain cannabinoids. Congress could amend the law before then. The current federal funding measure also runs through December 11, 2026. Whether lawmakers use the next funding negotiations to revisit hemp policy remains uncertain. What Shop Owners Should Do Now Check your catalog now Go through every item and category in your Square catalog. Look for CBD, hemp and hemp-derived products, both in-store and online. Follow the deadline and instructions in your Square notice, and keep a record of what you removed. If the deadline has passed, contact Square Support immediately to confirm the status of affected items and your account. Ask Square for its notice in writing Keep a copy of the email you received from Square. If anything is unclear about your account, contact Square Support and ask them to confirm in writing what happens after October 15, including whether your account will remain open for non-CBD sales. Find a backup payment option If CBD is a large part of your sales, start comparing other payment processors now. Ask each one whether it accepts hemp-derived products, what its fees are and how long account setup takes. If your business needs one, arrange an alternative payment method before the switch becomes urgent. What May Come Next Vector Payments has separately reported that some Square merchants whose businesses primarily sell CBD or hemp products have been given a November 5, 2026, account-closure date. That date does not appear in the mixed-catalog notice that Marijuana Moment published, and Square has not publicly confirmed it. Merchants should check the specific notice they received and get written confirmation from Square about their account's status. Square's October 15 catalog deadline is separate from the federal restrictions scheduled for November 12 and December 11. Although lawmakers have proposed alternative hemp regulatory frameworks, the existing statutory deadlines remain in place unless Congress changes the law. Merchants should follow the instructions in their individual Square notices rather than assume the company will revise its policy. The Push for an Alternative Federal Hemp Framework Lawmakers have several proposals on the table. The Lawful Hemp Protection Act, introduced by Representatives Andy Barr and Angie Craig in July 2026, is proposed legislation, not current law. According to Representative Andy Barr's announcement of the bill, the proposal would create a federal framework with a 1 percent total THC dry-weight limit, testing and labeling standards, a 21 and over purchase age, domestic sourcing requirements and a ban on synthetic cannabinoids. Not everyone wants the current rules reopened. In August, 35 state attorneys general urged Congress to let the November 2025 redefinition take effect. They argued that reopening it could bring new litigation, inconsistent enforcement and greater youth access. That disagreement is one reason the December deadline is contested. AHAA advocates for a regulated hemp-derived product market, including age limits, lab testing, accurate labeling and restrictions on synthetic intoxicating products. Merchants and consumers who want to share their experiences with lawmakers can use AHAA's Tell Your Story page. AHAA's position is clear: regulate it, don't eliminate it.

Missouri's hemp bill is no longer a proposal. Governor Mike Kehoe signed House Bill 2641 on April 23, and its main provisions take effect on November 12. For hemp retailers, distributors and consumers in Missouri, the law changes who can sell intoxicating hemp products, where they can be sold and who can make them. This report covers what the law does, which beverages have a short exception, where the federal lawsuit stands and what Missouri businesses should be doing before November 12. It is for general information and is not legal advice. How HB 2641 Became Law HB 2641 was sponsored by Rep. Dave Hinman, R-O'Fallon, with a similar Senate version sponsored by Sen. David Gregory. Kehoe said the House and Senate votes combined came to 151 in favor and 28 against, the Missouri Independent reported. Before the signing, the Missouri Hemp Trade Association delivered 10,000 handwritten letters to the governor's office asking for a veto. The association gathered the letters in 10 days. Kehoe signed the bill anyway. What Changes on November 12 Starting November 12, Missouri law treats covered intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid products as marijuana. Under the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services guidance issued September 28, licensed marijuana facilities may acquire, use and sell hemp-derived cannabinoid products from outside Missouri's licensed marijuana system only if they contain no more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC. Higher-potency products are treated as marijuana under the state's rules. Synthetic cannabinoids and cannabinoids produced through chemical conversion or modification of other cannabinoids remain prohibited for licensees, regardless of their THC level. The exact treatment of a product depends on its composition, how its cannabinoids were produced and the law's effective-date provisions. For covered products, that means: They can only be sold by businesses holding a Missouri marijuana facility license. The state's guidance says the sale or distribution of intoxicating hemp products without that license is prohibited and may result in fines or criminal prosecution They must be grown and manufactured in state-licensed facilities Buyers must be 21 or older Unlicensed sellers, including online sellers, can no longer sell them to Missouri buyers. Orders and deliveries through licensed marijuana facilities must follow the rules that apply to those facilities Marijuana-style testing, packaging and labeling rules apply, Missourinet reported Who enforces the law The Department of Health and Senior Services, through its Division of Cannabis Regulation, regulates licensed marijuana facilities and issues guidance for them. Under HB 2641, the department, the Attorney General, the Department of Public Safety, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, prosecuting and circuit attorneys and other state agencies work together to enforce the law, according to the legislature's bill summary. The same summary says violations are a Class D felony with a fine of $5,000 per transaction. How the State Timeline Differs From the Federal Timeline Missouri's law and the federal hemp changes are separate, even though they share a date. Congress amended the federal definition of hemp in November 2025 through Section 781 of Public Law 119-37, with the changes originally set to take effect on November 12, 2026. A later federal law, Public Law 119-103, delayed most of those changes until December 11, 2026. The delay does not cover everything. Under Section 2019 of that law, the part of Section 781 that excludes cannabinoids not capable of being naturally produced by the cannabis plant still applies on November 12, while the rest of the federal changes, including the 0.4 milligram per container limit, wait until December 11. HB 2641 has its own effective-date provisions. Under Section 195.900 of the Missouri statutes, the law takes effect on November 12 for specified categories, including: Products containing cannabinoids that cannot naturally be produced by the cannabis plant Products containing naturally producible cannabinoids that were synthesized or manufactured outside the plant Smokable or vapeable raw plant material, flower or bud products containing any amount of THCA Certain solid edibles, such as gummies, candies, tablets and baked goods, containing hemp-derived delta-9 THC above the concentration naturally present in the source plant For other hemp-derived cannabinoid products, the law's application is conditional. If Congress delays the relevant federal hemp restrictions, Missouri's provisions apply to those products only during periods when the federal restrictions prohibit them. In other words, the federal delay to December 11 does not automatically delay every Missouri restriction. Products in the categories the bill specifies fall under the state law on November 12 regardless of what happens in Washington. Businesses should check the state requirements for each product separately from the federal timeline. A Limited Exception for Certain Hemp THC Beverages There is a limited exception for some hemp THC beverages. According to the Department of Health and Senior Services, beverages that have naturally occurring cannabinoids and were not synthesized or manufactured outside the plant will not fall under the state's marijuana framework until December 11, 2026, provided they are not sold to anyone under 21. This exception does not cover every drink marketed as hemp-derived THC. A beverage made with synthesized or converted cannabinoids does not qualify, so retailers cannot sort their inventory by the word "beverage" on the label alone. The longer term picture for beverages depends on Congress. Hinman has said that if federal rules on drinks change, lawmakers will have to look at it again when the next session opens in January, MJBizDaily reported. Missouri Hemp Businesses Have Sued to Block the Law On July 16, the Missouri Hemp Trade Association, along with Wisconsin based manufacturer Lifted Liquids and St. Louis based MNG 2005, filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, The Marijuana Herald reported. The defendants are Governor Kehoe, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway and Department of Health and Senior Services Director Sarah Willson. The lawsuit makes three claims: Vagueness. The plaintiffs argue the law creates overlapping definitions, so that a single product can be "simultaneously legal 'hemp' and illegal 'marijuana.'" Dormant Commerce Clause. They argue the law favors products grown and manufactured in Missouri over products from other states. Federal preemption. They argue the law conflicts with the 2018 Farm Bill's protections for moving hemp across state lines. The state has asked the court to dismiss the case. It argued the law clearly treats a hemp-derived cannabinoid product as marijuana, calling it "that simple," and said the challenge follows a pattern of failed lawsuits in other states, the Missouri Independent reported in August. The case is before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool. Axios reported on October 5 that Harpool could rule before November 12, and noted that even a win for the plaintiffs would give stores about a month at most, because the broader federal changes arrive on December 11. As of October 9, no ruling had been reported. Until a court says otherwise, businesses should plan on the law taking effect as written. What Missouri Hemp Retailers Should Do Before November 12 With about a month left, Missouri businesses selling hemp-derived THC products should be working through a few steps now: Sort inventory by product type and ingredients. Separate beverages that may qualify for the December 11 exception from every other hemp THC product, and confirm that those beverages contain only naturally occurring cannabinoids. Check more than the THC number. Look at total THC per container, but also at which cannabinoids a product contains and how they were produced. A product with converted or synthetic cannabinoids is treated differently even at a low THC level. Plan for online sales ending. If you sell hemp THC products online to Missouri customers without a marijuana facility license, those sales end on November 12. Review supplier arrangements. Talk with suppliers about returns or reallocation for products you will not be able to sell. Axios reported that some Kansas City area stores say their suppliers will not take back unsold products. Talk with a lawyer. The law, the federal changes and the pending lawsuit all affect each business differently. The stakes are significant. Violations can carry a Class D felony and a $5,000 fine per transaction, so retailers should get product-specific legal guidance before deciding which inventory can stay on sale. Frequently Asked Questions Q. When does Missouri HB 2641 take effect? Its main hemp provisions take effect on November 12, 2026. Certain beverages with naturally occurring cannabinoids have until December 11, and some provisions depend on the federal timeline. Q. Can hemp shops still sell THC products in Missouri after November 12? Not covered intoxicating hemp products. After November 12, those can only be sold by businesses with a Missouri marijuana facility license. Q. Can I still buy hemp THC products online in Missouri? Unlicensed online sellers will not be able to sell covered intoxicating hemp products to Missouri buyers. Sales through licensed marijuana facilities remain subject to the rules that apply to those facilities. Q. Is the lawsuit going to stop the law? That is not known yet. The case is pending in federal court, and the state has asked for it to be dismissed. Axios reported the judge could rule before November 12, but no ruling had been reported as of October 9. Q. What happens if Congress changes the federal hemp rules? It depends on the federal action and the product category. Missouri's law has a conditional effective-date provision for certain products if Congress delays the federal restrictions, while specified categories start on November 12. Lawmakers may revisit the issue in January, so businesses should follow official state guidance and any court ruling rather than assume every product follows the same timeline. AHAA will keep tracking HB 2641, the federal lawsuit and the federal hemp timeline, and will report each change as it happens.

This report covers key developments from the past several weeks of the 2026 legislative session. Missouri's market elimination bill remains floor-ready. A 20% hemp tax passed the Maine Senate. Rhode Island and Hawaii are moving in a better direction. Here is where things stand.

Missouri HB 2641 would reclassify hemp-derived cannabinoid products as marijuana starting November 12, 2026. Here is what the bill does and why the next 15 days matter.

State legislatures are not slowing down. This week's report covers active threats to independent hemp retail, new access expansion bills, and regulatory proposals that will shape the market through 2026 and beyond. Read the full breakdown and find out what actions matter most right now.

This week's report covers 139 bills across hemp, marijuana, kratom, and alternative wellness sectors. South Carolina's H 4758 is off the floor until March 24, Missouri's hemp market elimination bills advance in the Senate, and Kentucky proposes one of the most comprehensive state hemp frameworks seen this session.