Kentucky Hemp Farmers Urge McConnell to Oppose Limits on CBD Sales
By Jennifer Wimmer
Forty-eight Kentucky hemp farmers, including Mark Allen and Steve Ogley of Hancock County, and others from Harrison, McLean, Scott, Owen, Henry, Woodford, Breckinridge, Lyon, Hopkins, Caldwell, Nelson, Green, Hardin and Calloway counties, have sent a letter to Senator Mitch McConnell urging him not to support any legislative language that would criminalize the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoids.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the most widely recognized compounds derived from hemp. Unlike THC, it does not cause a high, making it a common ingredient in health and wellness products. Hemp-based cannabinoids, which by law contain less than 0.3 percent THC, are promoted for uses ranging from pain relief and sleep support to easing anxiety, depression and cancer treatment side effects. Products made with hemp-derived cannabinoids provide health benefits without the psychoactive effects associated with THC.
The KY farmers who included their signatures urged McConnell to meet with them in person, and stated in the letter that they have already planted hemp this season and secured contracts for their harvest. They caution that such measures would cause “immediate and catastrophic consequences” for their farms, families and rural communities.
They also emphasize that hemp is crucial to their diversified, sustainable operations and economic stability, especially as they transition away from crops like tobacco.
These farmers support reasonable regulation including age restrictions, uniform testing, labeling and packaging requirements already reflected in KY’s regulations but strongly oppose outright prohibition, which they say empowers illicit markets and harms American farmers.
This effort arises as Congress nears a conclusion on a final spending bill vote which could happen as soon as this week, amid attempts to avoid a federal government shutdown. Senator McConnell previously inserted language into the fiscal 2026 Agriculture Appropriations Bill directing the Federal Drug Administration to set stricter THC limits on hemp-derived products, a provision which drew criticism for potentially banning widely used CBD products with trace amounts of THC. KY Senator Rand Paul successfully removed this language from earlier versions of the bill, but concerns remain that such restrictions could be included in other legislative proposals soon.
Kentucky has been a leader in hemp regulation since the federal legalization of hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill, which allowed farmers to establish a legal market for hemp-derived cannabinoids for the first time in decades.
This effort arises as Congress nears a conclusion on a final spending bill vote which could happen as soon as this week, amid attempts to avoid a federal government shutdown. Senator McConnell previously inserted language into the fiscal 2026 Agriculture Appropriations Bill directing the Federal Drug Administration to set stricter THC limits on hemp-derived products, a provision which drew criticism for potentially banning widely used CBD products with trace amounts of THC. KY Senator Rand Paul successfully removed this language from earlier versions of the bill, but concerns remain that such restrictions could be included in other legislative proposals soon.
Kentucky has been a leader in hemp regulation since the federal legalization of hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill, which allowed farmers to establish a legal market for hemp-derived cannabinoids for the first time in decades.
The Commonwealth is also a leading hemp producer in the United States, with over 1,000 hemp farms statewide. Growth has occurred rapidly since legalization. In 2024, it was reported that around 2,700 acres were planted in KY for industrial hemp, ranking it among the top states in hemp acreage and production. This expansion reflects the state’s shift from tobacco reliance to hemp farming, supported by a strong regulatory framework and increasing market demand, especially for cannabinoid products.
Senate Bill 202, signed into law this year in March, sets strict regulations on cannabis-infused beverages in KY, including hemp-derived products. The law implements a three-tier distribution system like alcohol, prohibiting companies from operating in more than one tier—manufacturing, distribution or retail. It limits THC to five milligrams per serving and requires licensing through the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The bill also directs the University of Kentucky to study the public health effects of these products, underscoring the state’s cautious approach. Hemp farmers worry criminalizing language in related bills could hurt their hemp farming operations.
The letter from KY hemp farmers is a united call to Senator McConnell to protect the legal hemp market amid ongoing federal legislative debates, stressing the real economic stakes and community impact of potential hemp product bans. Lawmakers are expected to finalize spending legislation very soon, with the fate of hemp-derived cannabinoid regulation in a precarious condition.
KY farmers and industry advocates continue to push for balanced regulation rather than prohibition to protect this emerging and growing agricultural sector.
To share your views, contact U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell through his official website at mcconnell.senate.gov or by calling his Washington office at (202) 224-2541.
