As the Farm Bill undergoes changes, farmers in several states are adapting to new regulations that have eliminated a loophole previously allowing the cultivation of hemp for THC products.
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In a significant development, a federal ban on intoxicating hemp-derived products like THC-infused drinks may be implemented as early as November. The White House, however, is urging Congress to postpone the ban. Meanwhile, hemp producers in Tennessee are already contending with a state-level prohibition. Marianna Bacallao from member station WPLN provides more insights.
MARIANNA BACALLAO, BYLINE: On Lee Crabtree’s farm in Readyville, Tennessee, there is a noticeable shift in the crops. Returning to plant seasonal favorites like blackberries, he picks a ripe one from the vine.
LEE CRABTREE: “It’s hard to tell when they’re exactly ripe. Usually, when the flies are eating it, you know it’s sweet.”
BACALLAO: Previously, much of Crabtree’s land was dedicated to CBD, the nonpsychoactive component of hemp. His products included full-spectrum CBD, which combines nonpsychoactive CBD with psychoactive THC. However, the advent of a new state law has halted this aspect of his business. Recently, Tennessee has banned the sale and cultivation of THCA—a type of THC legalized nationwide through a Farm Bill loophole in 2018. Where hemp once thrived, Crabtree now cultivates sweet corn.
CRABTREE: “And even right off the plant, it’s just so sweet. It’s great. I’m hoping that it sells good.”
BACALLAO: This shift marks a new phase for Crabtree’s operations, emblematic of many former hemp farmers who have been forced to adapt.
CRABTREE: “I’m not making the money that I would’ve been making, you know, back when CBD was huge there for a minute. It was really good there for a moment. It had its time in the sun.”
BACALLAO: If the current crops fail to bring in profits, Crabtree anticipates seeking new employment, a fate shared by numerous growers and retailers unable to sustain their businesses. A broader challenge looms with the potential nationwide ban on THC hemp products slated for November.
BEAU WHITNEY: “I’ve described it as an extinction-level event.”
BACALLAO: Beau Whitney, a hemp economist, explains that in states where marijuana remains illegal, the ban would eliminate THC products from the market. Even in regions where marijuana is permitted, consumers may feel the impact due to the absence of cost-effective alternatives like Delta-8. Additionally, the decline of the hemp industry poses a threat to state tax revenues.
WHITNEY: “The impact goes way beyond just the cannabinoid industry.”
BACALLAO: Whitney warns that the ban endangers hundreds of thousands of jobs. In response to the impending federal prohibition, some Tennessee farmers are transitioning to grow a different variety of hemp used for fiber. Bill Corbin, a farmer in Springfield, Tennessee, is preparing his first crop for the French company HEMP-it, which uses hemp for packaging and automotive parts.
BILL CORBIN: “There’s not a person in this industry that didn’t know this day was coming.”
BACALLAO: Corbin acknowledges that the industry faced sustainability challenges and supports legislative efforts to discourage recreational use of hemp derivatives. However, he expresses concern for consumers who rely on hemp products for medicinal purposes.
CORBIN: “Take me, for example. I’m an older person. I have issues with arthritis. I rely heavily on full-spectrum CBD.”
BACALLAO: Full-spectrum CBD, which contains a small amount of psychoactive THC, is essential for many, according to Frederick Cawthon of the Tennessee Hemp Alliance.
FREDERICK CAWTHON: “A lot of people think it’s the young generation. No. When you look at the numbers and if you talk to the operators, the data shows it’s your grandmother. It’s your auntie. It’s the church lady, actually.”
BACALLAO: In response, the Trump administration has requested that Congress reevaluate the proposed nationwide ban on THC hemp products.
For NPR News, I’m Marianna Bacallao in Nashville.
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