You may have seen headlines about a “hemp ban.” The phrase is dramatic, but the reality is more nuanced.
Hemp itself isn’t disappearing. What’s changing is how certain intoxicating hemp products are defined and regulated at the federal level.
If you shop at licensed New Jersey dispensaries like High Street, your experience won’t change. Let’s take a closer look at what will happen.
The legal update, explained
Back in 2018, federal lawmakers legalized hemp as long as it contained no more than 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by dry weight, opening the door to hemp farming across the country. The bill that legalized hemp, the 2018 Farm Bill, focused specifically on delta-9 THC. This meant that the federal government technically didn’t limit or regulate other types of THC such as delta-8 THC or delta-10 THC.
As such, manufacturers began using hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) to synthesize these types of THC among others. These cannabinoids are known to produce intoxicating effects as with delta-9 THC, which abounds in cannabis.
However, since the Farm Bill doesn’t regulate non-delta-9 THC products, they aren’t held to the same testing and safety standards. Currently, you’ll find them only outside licensed dispensaries at smoke shops, convenience stores, and online.
What the new law changes
The recently passed federal legislation updates the definition of hemp to include total THC across all types, not just delta-9 THC. It also limits finished hemp-derived products to 0.4 milligrams of THC per container.
In practical terms, this means many intoxicating hemp-derived products currently on the market would no longer qualify as legal hemp products once the rule takes effect on November 12, 2026. These products will be considered Schedule I substances under the federal Controlled Substances Act, deeming them federally illegal.
Industrial hemp — used for textiles, seeds, food products, and other non-intoxicating purposes — remains legal as long as total THC levels stay within the updated threshold. The legal status of delta-9 THC itself won’t change either, so it remains federally classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act.
However, a recent executive order seeks to reclassify delta-9 THC as a Schedule III controlled substance. This change would eliminate some of the cannabis industry’s current economic and research barriers, so if anything, whereas hemp’s future is uncertain, cannabis’s future is promising (and its present is already excellent).
What the “hemp ban” means for New Jersey
New Jersey already regulates cannabis through the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC). Licensed dispensaries operate within a structured system that requires them to sell only products that undergo third-party lab testing and display accurate labeling. There must also be systems for product tracking and age verification.
The federal hemp update does not change any of this. Instead, it primarily affects intoxicating hemp-derived products that have been sold outside New Jersey’s regulated cannabis framework. That said, hemp manufacturers may be able to apply for CRC licensure, and if they get licensed, they can sell their products to licensed cannabis dispensaries such as High Street.
On that note, High Street operates entirely within New Jersey’s licensed cannabis program. The products on our shelves are cannabis-derived, lab-tested, and fully compliant with state law. This all means that, hemp ban or not, your experience shopping at High Street will remain exactly the same.
Is hemp actually dangerous?
Hemp in its natural form is not inherently harmful. By definition, it contains low levels of delta-9 THC, but concerns arise when hemp-derived CBD is converted into alternative THC compounds such as delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, or THC-O.
These cannabinoids are rarely produced or tested under consistent regulatory standards. Reports of adverse reactions associated with some delta-8 products have raised questions about potency control and manufacturing consistency. THC-O has been described as significantly more potent than delta-9 THC, which may lead to overwhelming experiences for some consumers.
The issue is not hemp itself, but the variability and lack of uniform oversight in certain segments of the marketplace.
Why are licensed cannabis products treated differently than hemp products?
The core issue really comes down to oversight.
In New Jersey, cannabis products sold through licensed dispensaries must meet strict regulatory standards before they ever reach the shelf. That includes third-party laboratory testing to confirm potency, screen for contaminants such as pesticides or heavy metals, and verify that the labeling accurately reflects what’s inside. Packaging must meet state requirements, ingredients must be disclosed, and age restrictions must be enforced. Every step is monitored through a regulated supply chain.
Many intoxicating hemp-derived products have not operated under this framework. Because they exist in a federal gray area, some have been manufactured and distributed without consistent testing, standardized labeling, or clear quality control. Potency levels can vary tremendously from what’s printed on the package, and ingredient sourcing isn’t always transparent.
This lack of uniformity has created confusion for consumers. Two products labeled similarly may be produced under completely different safety standards depending on where they’re sold. The federal hemp update is intended to address that gap.
Could things shift again with hemp at the federal level?
Possibly. Several federal proposals are circulating that would regulate hemp-derived cannabinoids rather than restrict them as the current law will.
The Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act, sponsored by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), would enshrine regulations around hemp-derived cannabinoids. So too would The Hemp Enforcement, Modernization, and Protection (HEMP) Act, sponsored by Representatives Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Marc Veasey (D-TX). These bills reflect the aspirations of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a nonprofit organization supporting hemp growers and the broader hemp sector, to take a regulatory rather than prohibitionary approach to hemp-derived cannabinoids.
There are also efforts to delay or repeal the “hemp ban.” The Hemp Planting Predictability Act, sponsored by Representative James Baird (R-IN), would postpone the bill from taking effect until November 12, 2028. The American Hemp Protection Act of 2025, filed by Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC), would fully repeal the bill instead.
What’s next for hemp?
The situation is evolving, and we’re continuing to monitor it closely.
At High Street, our focus remains the same: offering thoughtfully curated, lab-tested cannabis products in a welcoming and informed environment.
If you ever have questions about what’s on our shelves — or what’s happening in the broader cannabis landscape — we’re always happy to talk. Visit us in Hackettstown to chat with us and find the Garden State’s best cannabis.
