In case you missed it, last Thursday was one of the most consequential days for our movement. In a bipartisan vote, an amendment to the Farm Bill, proposed by Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15), was adopted. This amendment bans hemp intoxicants like Delta-8 THC and closes the Delta-8 loophole. This monumental achievement was only made possible by our combined efforts. For years, SAM, alongside strong leadership from CADCA, as well as other allies have worked behind the scenes to educate staff and members on this issue in Washington. Many of you also educated your representatives about this issue: you’ve sent letters, shown up for meetings, asked questions in town halls, called offices, posted on social media, and more. 

 

We want to be clear: this is a crucial step in the right direction, but the fight is not yet over. Here is an outline of the process that the Farm Bill, and the Miller Amendment, will have to go through before it becomes law:

 

  1. The House of Representatives will need to vote on and pass the Farm Bill.

  2. The Senate Agriculture Committee will soon release their own version of the Farm Bill; this will be different from what the House passed.

  3. The Senate Agriculture Committee will then mark up (adds amendments to and votes on) their version of the Farm Bill. If an amendment banning hemp intoxicants like Delta-8 THC, we will fight to get an amendment vote.

  4. The Senate will vote and pass their version of the Farm Bill.

  5. Select House and Senate members will come together to work out differences in their versions of the Farm Bill to reach a compromise that can pass both chambers. 

  6. The combined bill will be voted on again in the full House and in the full Senate.

  7. The President will then need to sign the bill. 

 

The timing surrounding the Senate process is still unknown, but we will be working behind the scenes with our valuable partners like CADCA to ensure the Senate bill also bans Delta-8 THC. 

 

We will keep you updated as this bill progresses. Your advocacy is more important now than ever. We just got one step closer to the finish line.

 

Click here to send a letter to your members of Congress urging them to support banning Delta-8 THC in the Farm Bill!

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) is an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy. We are professionals working in mental health and public health. We are bipartisan. We are medical doctors, lawmakers, treatment providers, preventionists, teachers, law enforcement officers and others who seek a middle road between incarceration and legalization. Our commonsense, third-way approach to marijuana policy is based on reputable science and sound principles of public health and safety.