State Hemp Legislation in 2026: What's Actually Moving Across the Country Right Now

The Policy Vacuum Driving State Action

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp at the federal level — but it did not create a regulatory framework for hemp-derived consumer products. The FDA has not finalized a pathway for CBD in dietary supplements or food, and Congress has not passed a successor Farm Bill with meaningful hemp product provisions as of this writing.

That federal inaction has left states writing their own rules, and many are doing exactly that in 2026.

The US Hemp Roundtable's state policy update from May 12, 2026 confirms active hemp-related bills moving simultaneously in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, and additional states. For multi-state operators, advocates, and retailers, the weeks ahead represent a critical monitoring window.

Here's what's moving, state by state.

Connecticut: Closing the Consumer Product Gap

Connecticut lawmakers have been working to establish guardrails for hemp-derived cannabinoid products — particularly those containing delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and other minor cannabinoids that fall within the federal definition of hemp (no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, per the 2018 Farm Bill).

Active bills in Connecticut — flagged in the US Hemp Roundtable's May 12, 2026 state policy update — are focused on consumer protection measures including age restrictions, product labeling standards, and testing requirements for hemp-derived goods. The state has historically sought to coordinate with neighboring states but is also weighing stricter per-serving potency limits for intoxicating hemp products.

Note: Specific bill numbers for Connecticut legislation were not publicly available at publication time. Coverage in this section derives from US Hemp Roundtable summary reporting from the May 12, 2026 state policy update. Specific bill identification is pending direct legislative confirmation — verify current status at the Connecticut General Assembly.

Operators selling into Connecticut should monitor legislative calendars closely. Verify current bill status directly with the Connecticut General Assembly before making any operational changes. As of May 28, 2026, legislation remains in progress.

Delaware: Drawing the Line Between Hemp and Cannabis

Delaware has one of the more active legislative tracks among the states flagged in the May 12, 2026 Roundtable update. The state is working through product definition questions — specifically, how to treat hemp-derived cannabinoids that produce intoxicating effects in consumer products without falling under the state's cannabis framework.

Delaware's approach reflects a national tension that many states are now confronting: hemp is defined federally by its delta-9 THC concentration at the point of harvest, but isomerization and conversion processes can produce concentrated cannabinoids that don't fit neatly into that threshold. State bills are moving to address that gap through product-level standards.

Note: Specific bill numbers for Delaware legislation were not publicly available at publication time. Coverage in this section derives from US Hemp Roundtable summary reporting from the May 12, 2026 state policy update. Specific bill identification is pending direct legislative confirmation.

As of May 28, 2026, specific Delaware bill status remains in progress. Confirm current activity at the Delaware General Assembly or via the US Hemp Roundtable's May 12, 2026 state policy update.

New Jersey: Sorting Out the Dual-Market Problem

New Jersey voted to legalize recreational cannabis in 2020 and has built significant regulatory infrastructure around adult-use cannabis since. That framework has created an ongoing challenge for hemp operators: how are hemp-derived cannabinoid products — sold at gas stations, convenience stores, and online — distinguished from regulated cannabis products that require a dispensary?

Bills active in New Jersey as of the May 12, 2026 Roundtable update are addressing that question directly. Focus areas include age verification requirements, product potency limits per serving and per package, and retail channel compliance for hemp-derived goods sold outside the cannabis regulatory system.

Note: Specific bill numbers for New Jersey legislation were not publicly available at publication time. Coverage in this section derives from US Hemp Roundtable summary reporting from the May 12, 2026 state policy update. Specific bill identification is pending direct legislative confirmation — verify current status at the New Jersey Legislature.

New Jersey operators should monitor both the New Jersey Legislature and guidance from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, as rulemaking from both bodies can affect hemp businesses operating in the state.

Michigan: A Program Under Pressure

Michigan's hemp story in 2026 centers on Senate Bills 608 and 609. The Senate passed both bills; they are now scheduled to advance to the House and then to the Governor. The Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Tourism Committee held a hearing on both bills on May 14, 2026.

At that hearing, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) testified that the number of licensed hemp growers in Michigan dropped from more than 600 in 2019 to approximately 25 in 2025. (These figures are drawn from unarchived oral testimony delivered at the May 14, 2026 Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Tourism Committee hearing. The official hearing record has not yet been published by the Michigan Legislature; these figures are subject to correction upon official record release. See the committee calendar for the meeting entry once the record is available.) Molly Mott of MDARD testified that the current program lacks sufficient growers to remain self-funding. The Michigan Farm Bureau testified in support of the proposed transition.

SB 608 and 609 represent a legislative response to that steep decline in program participation. "We hope to be able to grow fiber and grain under the USDA without issue and hopefully CBD, but the restrictions on THC levels add significant risk," said Dave Crabill of iHemp Michigan. These bills are the subject of a separate, Michigan-focused article covering the hearing testimony and bill provisions in full.

What Multi-State Operators and Advocates Should Watch

Across all four states, several common threads are worth monitoring heading into summer 2026:

• Age restrictions — Multiple states are advancing 21+ requirements for hemp-derived cannabinoid products with intoxicating potential
• Per-serving and per-package potency limits — States are setting their own consumer-facing THC thresholds independent of the federal 0.3% delta-9 standard; whether a threshold is a federal or state standard matters significantly for compliance
• Lab testing mandates — Certificate of Analysis (COA) requirements are appearing in state bills as a baseline consumer protection measure
• Retail channel restrictions — Some states are proposing limits on where hemp-derived products can be sold

No federal hemp product framework is expected to resolve these state-by-state divergences in the near term. Until Congress acts, multi-state operators must treat each state as its own compliance environment.

Stay Ahead of State Hemp Policy

The US Hemp Roundtable's state policy coverage remains the most reliable single source for real-time updates on bills like those moving in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, and New Jersey. iHemp will continue reporting on policy developments across its 17-state network as legislation advances.

If you're an advocate, operator, or grower tracking these changes, connect with your state hemp industry association and follow the US Hemp Roundtable for ongoing updates. Policy windows move quickly, and staying informed is the first step toward staying compliant.

As of May 28, 2026. Hemp regulations change frequently. Verify current requirements with the relevant state agency or a qualified attorney before making compliance or operational decisions.