The legal hemp industry is under attack, and the level of absurdity coming out of state legislatures is almost comical—if it weren’t so dangerous. Across multiple states, lawmakers are introducing bills that could dramatically reshape the market, effectively handing it over to Big Canna and Big Alcohol while pushing small businesses to the brink of extinction. Nothing But Hemp believes these prohibitive measures are bad for consumers, bad for small businesses, and only serve the interests of ultra-rich corporations that want to dominate the cannabis and alcohol industries.
This week, we’re covering the latest legislative threats in Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Texas, and of course, the circus happening in Minnesota—where beer distributors are trying to make hemp into alcohol so they can monopolize it.
Georgia’s SB 254: Just Ban Everything, Why Don’t You?
Georgia’s SB 254 is the equivalent of a temper tantrum thrown by Big Alcohol lobbyists who can’t handle the competition. This bill would impose drastic THC limits, ban hemp-derived beverages (because heaven forbid people have an alternative to booze), and significantly restrict product availability. The result?
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Consumers get fewer choices because, apparently, the government knows what’s best for them.
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People who want legal, safe hemp products are pushed toward illicit markets. Great job, Georgia!
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Alcohol companies get to keep their stranglehold on social drinking without pesky competition from hemp seltzers.
Nothing But Hemp believes this bill is a direct attack on consumer freedom and the free market. It’s protectionism at its worst.
Kentucky’s SB 202: Progress or a Smokescreen?
At first, Kentucky wanted to ban hemp beverages outright, but after pushback from the industry (shocking that people don’t like having their livelihoods destroyed), they removed that provision. However, SB 202 still weakens key industry-backed quality regulations from the Department of Health and Family Services, because…why not?
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Weakening regulations = More room for corporate lobbying.
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More corporate lobbying = A market controlled by Big Canna and Big Alcohol.
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Small businesses trying to do the right thing? Who cares!
Instead of enacting policies that support responsible hemp businesses, Kentucky lawmakers seem intent on making life harder for entrepreneurs—because that’s what they do best.
Missouri’s Legislative Chaos: New Rules for the Sake of New Rules
Missouri lawmakers apparently woke up and decided, “Let’s make things more complicated.” They’re juggling multiple bills:
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HB 696 & SB 518: New age restrictions, testing requirements, and licensing hurdles. Because small businesses don’t have enough red tape to deal with already.
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HB 393: A 3-tier system for hemp beverages—copying the outdated alcohol model and slapping arbitrary THC milligram limits on top. Why? No one knows.
These bills seem designed to strangle small businesses in regulatory nonsense while clearing a path for big corporations to take over. Classic.
Montana’s HB 49: The ‘Because We Said So’ Bill
Montana’s HB 49 sets strict THC caps and bans synthetic cannabinoids. Now, banning synthetic garbage makes sense, but limiting natural THC? That’s just lawmakers pretending they know science.
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Consumers who want full-spectrum hemp? Sorry, not allowed.
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Small businesses that already follow safety standards? Too bad.
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Corporate interests that want the competition wiped out? They’re loving it.
Instead of making thoughtful policies, Montana lawmakers seem to have opted for a “ban first, think later” approach.
Ohio’s SB 86: Hemp in Dispensaries Only—Because Why Not Make It Expensive?
Ohio’s SB 86 is what happens when lawmakers decide to fix something that isn’t broken. This bill would force most hemp-derived products into dispensaries. So instead of buying tinctures or gummies at a reasonable price, consumers will now have to:
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Pay dispensary-level prices for products that were previously affordable.
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Deal with unnecessary restrictions on access.
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Watch small hemp businesses get crushed because they can no longer sell their own products.
This is yet another bill designed to eliminate competition and force consumers to rely on Big Canna.
Texas’ SB 3: The ‘Why Even Have a Hemp Industry’ Bill
Texas lawmakers took one look at the hemp market and said, “Nope.” SB 3 would ban all cannabinoids except CBD and CBG, making most hemp products illegal overnight.
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Businesses? Gone.
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Consumer choice? Gone.
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Free market principles? We don’t do that here.
This bill would shut down an entire industry just to make life easier for Big Alcohol and Big Canna. Texas, the state that supposedly loves business and competition, is now leading the charge on prohibition. The irony is unbearable.
Minnesota: Big Alcohol, Big Canna, and Tribal Compacts Push Small Businesses Out
If you thought other states were bad, wait until you hear about Minnesota’s latest legislative circus. Beer distributors are lobbying for a 3-tier system for ALL hemp products. Why? Because they want long-term, exclusive contracts with brands—just like in alcohol.
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Want to sell tinctures? Dispensary only.
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Want to sell hemp flower? Dispensary only.
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Want to sell high-dose hemp edibles? Sorry, small businesses—only dispensaries can do that.
And now, to really twist the knife, Minnesota’s marijuana dispensaries have been given the green light to sell federally legal hemp products. But it doesn’t stop there. The state has also made a deal with the tribes, giving them first-mover advantage, allowing five locations per LLC of tribal land, and offering significant federal and local tax breaks. Even the small marijuana dispensaries, mezzo businesses, and micro businesses are getting squeezed out. It’s gotten to the point where new businesses might as well close up before they even open.
Big Alcohol, Big Cannabis, and now Tribal Compacts have successfully carved up the hemp industry in Minnesota, leaving small businesses with nothing but scraps. This isn’t regulation—it’s corporate consolidation, dressed up as public policy.
Why This Is All Ridiculous
The bills across these states have one common goal: Protect the profits of Big Canna and Big Alcohol by making it impossible for small businesses to compete. Here’s the reality:
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Consumers deserve choices that aren’t dictated by corporate monopolies.
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Small businesses built the hemp industry while Big Canna sat on the sidelines.
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These regulations are about power, not safety.
Nothing But Hemp believes these legislative attacks are driven by greed, not public health. If lawmakers actually cared about consumer protection, they’d be working with industry leaders—not cutting deals with lobbyists.
What You Can Do
If you value hemp freedom and hate seeing corporate greed win, now is the time to act:
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Call your representatives and tell them you oppose these ridiculous bills.
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Support businesses that fight for hemp rights by purchasing their products.
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Stay informed and spread the word.
Nothing But Hemp will continue to fight for an open, fair, and competitive hemp market—because prohibition, in any form, is always a bad idea.
