In the wake of a federal ban on almost all hemp products, a new Senate bill offers hope. Action Alert!
THE TOPLINE
- A new Senate bill, the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act (CSRA), would reverse the disastrous hemp ban enacted in this year’s federal spending bill.
- The CSRA establishes a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabinoids—including CBD—and explicitly allows cannabinoids in dietary supplements, countering FDA’s long-standing attempt to block CBD supplements because a CBD drug exists.
- ANH-USA strongly supports this bill as a rational, science-based alternative that protects consumers, preserves access, and reins in unsafe products without destroying the hemp industry.
When Congress passed the FY 2025 spending bill recently, it quietly included a ban on nearly all hemp-derived products. This sweeping ban makes many safe and beneficial CBD and full-spectrum hemp oils illegal.
But a new bill introduced by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) offers a better path forward. The Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act (CSRA) would undo the hemp ban and replace it with a comprehensive regulatory system—finally giving consumers safe, clearly labeled products while protecting access to the full spectrum of hemp’s natural benefits. It needs our support.
What’s In the Bill
Rather than outlawing millions of safe non-intoxicating products (including many CBD and full-spectrum oils), it creates rules that distinguish responsible hemp producers from rogue actors. In short, it avoids the mistake of “throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”
It creates a real pathway for hemp-derived supplements, including CBD.
This is the most important provision for supplement consumers.
For years, FDA has insisted that CBD cannot be sold as a dietary supplement because a CBD drug exists. This is the “back-channel” at the FDA which we’ve written about extensively that allows Big Pharma to turn natural compounds into drugs while banning the supplement version. The CSRA directly overrides this. It states that a dietary supplement may contain hemp-derived cannabinoids and cannot be considered adulterated or excluded from the supplement category simply because it contains CBD or other cannabinoids.
If enacted in law, this bill would be a major victory for health freedom and the millions who rely on cannabinoid supplements for wellness.
The new bill sets strong safety standards without stripping consumer choice: the win-win for consumers we see too seldom.
Under the CSRA:
- Hemp-derived cannabinoid products must be tested for potency, pesticides, heavy metals, and chemical byproducts.
- Labels must disclose potency, risks, and lack of FDA approval.
- Synthetic cannabinoids (like many forms of illicit delta-8) are banned.
- Products cannot be sold to people under 21.
- Packaging and flavors appealing to children are prohibited.
In other words: the bill targets actual problems—like untested products and youth access—without criminalizing responsible adult use.
States’ rights are maintained.
States may continue to regulate hemp-derived cannabinoids as they see fit—even banning them—but cannot block interstate transport. This prevents the chaotic patchwork currently harming farmers and small businesses while preserving states’ rights to go further if they choose.
Why This Matters
The hemp ban added to this year’s spending bill threatens to erase an entire industry, shutter thousands of small businesses, and eliminate access to safe, full-spectrum hemp products that millions depend on. Even worse, it claims to protect the public while actually pushing consumers toward unsafe, unregulated black-market products.
Our core mission is protecting access to natural health options, and the CSRA’s explicit protection for cannabinoids in dietary supplements is an important step forward.
Action Alert!
