Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried is condemning Congress for approving a surprise federal ban on most consumable hemp products, warning it endangers hundreds of thousands of jobs and a multi‑billion‑dollar industry just years after federal legalization. The ban, folded into a recent spending bill signed by President Donald Trump, is set to take effect next November unless lawmakers reverse course.
Fried says small farmers and mom‑and‑pop hemp businesses are “gut‑wrenched,” having invested life savings only to face sudden recriminalization driven by fears over unregulated intoxicating cannabinoids. She predicts Congress will be forced to “fix this” amid mounting pressure from stakeholders and notes Florida is simultaneously moving toward a 2026 ballot measure to legalize adult‑use marijuana, reflecting broader public support for ending cannabis prohibition. Read the full original report at Marijuana Moment.