Is Cannabis Industry Infighting Fueling A New Prohibition?
Marijuana operators have lobbied to ban hemp-derived THC
For over a decade, the cannabis industry assumed legalization was a one-way street. Vicory after victory occured at the state level with few exceptions. That momentum is stalling now as the industry faces a new reality: the “muscle memory” of prohibition is back, and the industry’s own internal fractures may be providing the ammunition to prohibitionists.
In November 2025, the U.S. Congress effectively prohibited intoxicating hemp cannabinoids, leaving the sector scrambling for legislative fixes as the industry races to survive the new restrictions. Congress gave the hemp industry a year to comply with the ban. The hemp industry is hard at work trying to get legislation passed to save themselves. As of this writing, no such legislation has become law.
Simultaneously, coordinated efforts in Massachusetts, Maine, and Arizona are working to repeal adult-use laws and dismantle legal retail markets. These campaigns are largely driven by SAM Action Inc., the political arm of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), led by President and CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet.
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