Federal Hemp Law Bill Tracker: November 12, 2026 Status

Status as of August 4, 2026. The federal definition of hemp changes on November 12, 2026 unless Congress acts. This page tracks the enacted law and every pending bill that would delay, amend, or repeal it. For adults 21+.

The deadline: November 12, 2026
Section 781 of Public Law 119-37 takes effect, moving the federal hemp definition to a total-THC standard.

What Changes on November 12

  • Hemp is defined by total THC — delta-9 + (0.877 × THCA) — not delta-9 alone.
  • Finished consumer products are capped at 0.4 mg total THC per container.
  • Synthesized and artificially derived cannabinoids are excluded from the hemp definition entirely.

Run any Certificate of Analysis through our total-THC calculator to see how a specific product measures under both the old and new rules.

Bill Status

P.L. 119-37, Sec. 781ENACTED
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 (H.R. 5371)
Signed November 12, 2025
Redefines hemp by total THC (delta-9 + 0.877 × THCA) at 0.3% and caps finished consumer products at 0.4 mg total THC per container. Excludes synthesized cannabinoids. Effective November 12, 2026.
H.R. 6500 (Senate CR)PENDING
Continuing resolution carrying a hemp delay
Advanced in the Senate 89-4 on August 3, 2026
Would push the Section 781 effective date to December 11, 2026. The House-passed version omits the hemp extension, so it is not law. Reporting indicates the delay would not cover synthetically derived cannabinoids.
Lawful Hemp Protection ActIN COMMITTEE
Industry-backed repeal/replacement
Filed July 22, 2026
Would preserve a workable hemp market in place of the total-THC standard. No committee action reported.
H.R. 7010IN COMMITTEE
Hemp standard amendment
In committee
Would amend or delay the Section 781 total-THC standard. No floor action.
S. 3686IN COMMITTEE
Senate companion
In committee
Senate-side counterpart addressing the hemp redefinition. No floor action.
H.R. 6209IN COMMITTEE
Hemp definition repeal
In committee
Would repeal or revise the Section 781 language. No committee action reported.
Hemp Planting Predictability ActIN COMMITTEE
Cultivation-focused fix
In committee
Addresses grower-side consequences of the redefinition. No floor action.

How to Read This

Enacted means it is law today. Pending means it has passed at least one chamber but is not law. In committee means it has been introduced with no floor action — the large majority of bills never advance past this stage.

The practical takeaway as of this update: the total-THC standard is current law with a November 12 effective date. A Senate continuing resolution could push it to December 11, but the House version omits that language, so no delay has been enacted. Every standalone repeal or replacement bill remains in committee.

What This Means State by State

Federal law sets a floor, not a ceiling — several federal appellate courts have held that states may adopt stricter standards. Many already use a total-THC formula regardless of federal timing. Check your state with the THCA Legal Status Checker.

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Related Resources

Last reviewed August 4, 2026. General information, not legal advice — verify against Congress.gov and consult counsel before acting. Maintained by Doc’s Hemp.

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Florida buyers: Is THCA legal in Florida? Short answer — yes, and Florida has not banned it.

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