Sen. Mitch McConnell closed a loophole in a hemp law he championed. Now a $28 billion THC industry that gets people high is fighting for survival
- Posted on October 4, 2026
- By Fortune
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
A thriving $28 billion cannabis extract industry faces regulatory challenges following Senator McConnell's efforts to close legal gaps in hemp legislation. The sector, which produces intoxicating products derived from hemp-derived compounds, is pursuing survival strategies including age restrictions for consumers, package potency limits, and import restrictions on foreign cannabis materials. These measures aim to create industry self-regulation before stricter federal oversight is implemented.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
Sen. Mitch McConnell closed a loophole in a hemp law he championed. Now a $28 billion THC industry that gets people high is fighting for survival
The industry hopes to save itself by restricting impairing products to people 21 and older, limiting how much THC can be in a package, and banning imported cannabis compounds.
