New legislation from Congress could affect Minnesota’s cannabis market, with a ban on hemp-derived THC products scheduled to begin in November 2026. While this would not directly affect non-hemp products sold in licensed cannabis dispensaries, it could end sales of low-dose THC edible and beverage products produced from hemp, which have become popular with consumers throughout the state since the Minnesota legislature formally legalized them in 2022.
The Cannabis Research Center (CRC) at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health studies hemp-derived THC and other cannabis-related issues. Colin Planalp, a senior researcher at CRC, is available to comment on the potential impact of the new legislation.
Colin Planalp
“The recent action by Congress to change the federal definition of hemp, effectively outlawing the hemp-derived THC products we see in Minnesota and many other states, has created a great deal of uncertainty that could have serious implications for Minnesota’s hemp industry.”
“If the federal government were to take an aggressive approach to implementing this new ban on hemp-derived THC products, it could effectively end what had been operating in Minnesota as a legal industry.”
“The future of the hemp industry in Minnesota and other states is almost certain to be an ongoing policy issue for at least the next year, as we approach the November 2026 deadline for hemp-derived THC products to be banned at the federal level. The University of Minnesota Cannabis Research Center is committed to continuing to research these issues and contribute to the conversation with data and research evidence so that policymakers can make informed decisions.”
Colin Planalp is a senior research fellow at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health Cannabis Research Center. He focuses on helping policymakers and public officials at varying levels of government to use data and research evidence to influence policies that equitably enhance public health. His interest in cannabis research emerged from years of research into the U.S. opioid crisis, growing levels of alcohol death rates and other related topics.
Contact
Colin Planalp, cplanalp@umn.edu
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