The "Hemp Ban" Explained: How the New Law Affects the Market (and Why Your Proof Products are Safe)

There’s been a lot of urgent talk lately about a “national hemp ban” or “cannabis ban” being quietly tucked into the government funding bill that ended the shutdown in November 2025. You might have heard dramatic claims that this is an “extinction-level event” for the entire hemp industry.

Naturally, this has left many of our customers and community members confused, asking us three big questions:

1. Does this mean the dispensaries that carry Proof products are being shut down?

2. Does this make all hemp products, like the wellness items we sell online, illegal now?

3. When does this law actually go into effect?

As a brand operating in both state-regulated cannabis and national hemp markets, Proof is here to give you a simple, straightforward explanation. The short answer is: No, your Proof products are safe, and your dispensary isn't going anywhere. This new law's main goal is to close specific, unregulated loopholes. Let's break down what really happened.

Understanding the Two Sides of Cannabis Regulation

To understand the change, we need to quickly distinguish between the two ways you purchase cannabis products:

Addressing the Loopholes: The "Total THC" Change

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp containing less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC. This created a loophole where manufacturers could convert legally sourced CBD into other intoxicating forms of THC (like Delta-8, Delta-10, etc.) and sell them without regulatory oversight (no testing, no age verification).

The new provision is designed to close this gap by significantly tightening the federal definition of legal hemp. The law now requires finished hemp-derived products intended for consumption (like edibles, drinks, and vapes) to contain no more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. This “Total THC” standard counts all forms of THC and THC-like cannabinoids.

Proof's Position: Why Our Products are Safe

The goal of the recent federal action was to target the unregulated, intoxicating products flooding the national market, not wellness products like ours.

✅ Our State-Regulated Products (CA Dispensaries)

Our products sold in California dispensaries are already subject to the state's rigorous testing and regulation standards. They are completely unaffected by this federal hemp law.

✅ Our Non-Intoxicating Hemp Products (Online)

Proof’s hemp products are safe and will remain available online. Our focus has always been on non-intoxicating, minor cannabinoid wellness products.

In short: If the product’s purpose is to get you high, it will be illegal in the national market come 2026. If the product’s purpose is wellness without intoxication, it is likely safe.

When Does This Go Into Effect?

The bill includes a one-year transition period. The changes are scheduled to take effect in November 2026.

Proof’s Commitment: Safety and Responsible Access

At Proof, we stand by the belief that people should have safe, legal access to the benefits of cannabis. While we champion access, we also believe strongly that product safety and consumer protection are paramount.

We hope this significant market shift is not the end of the line, but a catalyst. The massive public backlash shows that consumers truly rely on these products! We urge the federal government to use this momentum to move toward sensible, comprehensive legalization and regulation of the entire plant, ensuring all adults can access high-quality, safe cannabis products responsibly.