Former Trump Homeland Security Official Pushes Congress to Maintain Hemp THC Product Ban

Chad Wolf, the former acting secretary of homeland security, is urging Congress to uphold a pending ban on high-potency hemp-derived THC products, citing national security risks and public health concerns. The ban, scheduled to take effect on November 12, would restrict hemp products to 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container, a move Wolf argues is necessary to combat the influence of Chinese-linked criminal organizations. This push comes as the White House and industry advocates seek to delay or modify the restrictions to protect the market for full-spectrum CBD and support American farmers.

Chad Wolf, serving as executive director for the America First Policy Institute, sent a formal letter to the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, calling for an investigation into foreign involvement in the U.S. hemp market. Wolf argues that the 2018 Farm Bill’s original intent to legalize industrial hemp and non-intoxicating CBD has been exploited to create a dangerous, unregulated market for high-potency THC products. He specifically highlighted that these products, often sold as gummies and vapes, are frequently marketed to children and lack essential safety standards, labeling requirements, and age restrictions.

The conflict centers on legislation that redefines hemp to include a strict limit of 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container, effectively banning many current products after November 12. While Wolf insists that rolling back these protections would embolden foreign actors and undermine law enforcement, the White House and some lawmakers have signaled a desire to pivot. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought recently expressed the administration's intent to ensure the fair treatment of hemp products, suggesting legislative changes that would keep many products legal while adding new taxes and labeling requirements to avoid the mass recriminalization set for later this year.

Beyond public health, Wolf framed the issue as a significant national security threat, alleging that China is linked to the financing, chemical manufacturing, and illegal cultivation operations within the intoxicating THC hemp supply chain. He compared the situation to the export of fentanyl and synthetic narcotics, urging lawmakers to act quickly to close regulatory loopholes that allow Chinese-linked actors to profit at the expense of American safety. Conversely, industry advocates and President Trump have emphasized the economic and therapeutic importance of the sector, noting that one in five adults uses these products for chronic pain. Trump has called for a fast update to the law to protect farmers and maintain access to full-spectrum CBD products that many Americans rely on.