AHAA Weekly Policy Report: February 11, 2026
This week's report tracks 171 bills across hemp, marijuana, kratom, and tobacco sectors. The hemp section below highlights 52 bills with particular focus on regulatory frameworks advancing in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Mississippi. The complete report includes 109 marijuana bills, 5 Farm Bill updates, and additional kratom and tobacco legislation.
Hemp Regulatory Developments
Indiana SB 250: Comprehensive Hemp Product Framework
Status: Referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code
Indiana is developing a comprehensive regulatory structure for hemp-derived cannabinoid products. SB 250 establishes manufacturing, distribution, and sales guidelines requiring permits for all businesses in the hemp supply chain. The legislation mandates product testing, labeling requirements, and age verification systems for retail sales. This represents Indiana's first major attempt to create statewide hemp product standards, potentially affecting hundreds of retailers currently operating without specific state oversight.
Kentucky HB 482: Hemp Vapor Product Age Verification
Status: Referred to Licensing, Occupations & Administrative Regulations Committee
Kentucky legislators are targeting hemp-derived vapor products with new age verification requirements. HB 482 mandates that retailers implement systems to verify purchasers are at least 21 years old, including notification requirements and identification checks. The bill specifically addresses delivery sales, requiring carriers to verify recipient age upon delivery. These provisions mirror existing requirements for nicotine products and aim to prevent youth access to hemp vapor products.
Kentucky HB 532: Medicinal Hemp Product Standards
Status: Referred to Agriculture Committee
Separate Kentucky legislation establishes comprehensive quality and safety standards for medicinal hemp products. HB 532 creates regulatory oversight for cultivation, processing, and marketing of hemp-derived medicinal products. The bill requires businesses to maintain detailed batch records and implement traceability systems throughout the supply chain. Kentucky's approach emphasizes product safety through mandatory testing and quality control measures, distinguishing medicinal hemp products from general consumer goods.
Missouri HB 2641 & SB 904: Hemp Business Licensing
Status: HB 2641 on Informal Perfection Calendar; SB 904 Hearing Conducted
Missouri is advancing dual legislative tracks for hemp regulation. HB 2641 addresses cannabis and controlled substance definitions with implications for hemp product classifications. Separately, SB 904 creates a licensing framework specifically for hemp beverage manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. The hemp beverage provisions establish application requirements, operational standards, and license fee structures. These bills represent Missouri's effort to create distinct regulatory pathways for different hemp product categories rather than applying blanket regulations across the sector.
Mississippi HB 1152: Medical Cannabis Access Expansion
Status: Transmitted to Senate
Mississippi's Right to Try Medical Cannabis Act expands patient access for chronic, debilitating, or terminal conditions not currently covered under existing medical cannabis law. HB 1152 allows healthcare providers to petition the Department of Health for patient access, creating a pathway for individuals with conditions beyond the current qualifying list. The legislation establishes petition procedures and Department authority to approve access on a case-by-case basis. This approach provides flexibility for emerging medical applications while maintaining regulatory oversight.
Mississippi HB 865: Kratom Scheduling
Status: Committee Substitute Approved
Mississippi legislators approved committee substitute language to add kratom to Schedule III of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. HB 865 would place kratom in the same schedule as certain prescription pharmaceuticals, subjecting manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to controlled substance regulations. The reclassification would require licensing for businesses handling kratom products and establish new compliance obligations. Industry stakeholders have raised concerns about the impact on consumer access and small business operations.
Ohio SB 56: Medical and Adult-Use Marijuana Revisions
Status: Effective for operating appropriations as of December 19, 2025
Ohio's comprehensive marijuana legislation includes provisions affecting hemp-derived product regulations. SB 56 revises both medical and adult-use marijuana laws while establishing new tax structures. The legislation creates regulatory distinctions between marijuana and hemp-derived products, potentially affecting how intoxicating hemp products are classified and taxed. Ohio businesses should review the bill's definitions and tax provisions to understand implications for hemp product lines.
Florida HB 733: Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Updates
Status: Health & Human Services Committee
Florida's Department of Health legislation includes provisions updating medical marijuana treatment center regulations. HB 733 establishes licensing requirements, spatial restrictions, and operational procedures for facilities cultivating, processing, and dispensing low-THC cannabis and medical cannabis. The bill includes applicant prioritization provisions and license expansion tied to patient population growth. While primarily focused on medical marijuana, the legislation's regulatory framework may establish precedents for broader hemp product oversight in Florida.
Additional Hemp Bills Under Review
Illinois HB 4515: Cannabis community college vocational programs
Hawaii HB 1542, HB 2613, SB 3206, SB 3319: Multiple hemp regulation proposals
Kansas HB 2678: Hemp product standards
Pennsylvania: Hemp labeling and compliance measures
Tennessee: Age restriction and regulatory framework updates
Virginia: Hemp retail and consumer protection provisions
Beyond Hemp: Full Report Coverage
This week's complete policy report includes:
- Marijuana Legislation (109 bills): Medical and adult-use program updates, licensing expansions, home cultivation proposals, and tax structure changes
- Farm Bill Developments (5 bills): Federal hemp provisions, agricultural support programs, and commodity regulations
- Kratom Regulation (multiple states): Age restrictions, scheduling proposals, and consumer protection measures
- Tobacco & Nicotine Products: Vapor product regulations, age verification requirements, and retail compliance
Members operating in multiple product categories should review the complete tracking report for comprehensive state-specific updates.
Take Action
Contact Legislators: With hemp bills advancing in multiple states, direct outreach from business owners is critical. Policymakers need to hear how proposed regulations would affect operations, compliance costs, and consumer access.
Submit Public Comment: Several states have opened comment periods on hemp regulation proposals. Your testimony on testing availability, implementation timelines, and market impact influences final rule language.
Join AHAA Advocacy: Coordinate with other members on state-specific advocacy priorities. Unified industry messaging strengthens legislative relationships and improves policy outcomes.
View Complete Report
This summary highlights hemp-specific legislation. The full PolicyNote report includes detailed summaries, bill text analysis, and tracking for all 171 bills across hemp, marijuana, kratom, tobacco, and Farm Bill categories.
Prepared by the American Healthy Alternatives Association
171 bills tracked across 34 states
Retail Compliance Requirements: Age verification systems, staff training programs, and product storage standards for all businesses selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products.
Ohio SB 326: Retail Licensing System Advances
Status: Passed Commerce Committee, Headed to Senate Floor
Ohio's hemp retail licensing proposal cleared the Commerce Committee with bipartisan support and moves to the full Senate for consideration. SB 326 creates a tiered licensing structure scaled to business size, with small retailers paying $500 annually and larger distributors paying up to $5,000. The bill preserves local authority to set operating standards but prohibits municipalities from enacting complete bans on licensed retailers. A 180-day compliance grace period would give existing businesses time to obtain licenses without facing penalties, addressing industry concerns about abrupt regulatory changes.
Key Provisions:
Tiered Fee Structure: Three license categories based on number of retail locations, designed to minimize compliance costs for small businesses while funding state oversight.
Local Control Parameters: Municipalities can establish operating requirements but cannot prohibit licensed retailers from operating within their jurisdictions.
Transition Period: Six-month grace period after enactment allows current retailers to obtain licenses without retroactive penalties for past operation.
North Carolina HB 563: Total THC Measurement Proposal
Status: Judiciary Committee
New legislation would change North Carolina's hemp compliance standards from delta-9 THC measurement to a total THC calculation including all THC isomers in their activated form. HB 563 would align the state with USDA testing methodology but would apply the 0.3% total THC limit to finished retail products, not just agricultural hemp material. This represents a significant change from current law and would affect products containing delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and other hemp-derived cannabinoids. Industry representatives have raised concerns about the 90-day implementation timeline and lack of transition provisions for existing inventory.
Key Provisions:
Expanded THC Definition: "Total THC" would include delta-9 THC, delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and other isomers calculated post-decarboxylation using the standard conversion formula.
Retail Product Standards: Finished hemp products must meet the 0.3% total THC threshold, creating new testing obligations for manufacturers and retailers beyond agricultural compliance.
Rapid Implementation: 90-day deadline after enactment, after which non-compliant products face seizure and civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation.
Tennessee SB 1891: Age Restriction Increase
Status: Passed Health Committee 7-2, Pending Floor Vote
Tennessee legislators advanced a bill raising the minimum purchase age for hemp-derived intoxicating products from 18 to 21, mirroring restrictions on alcohol and tobacco. SB 1891 passed the Senate Health Committee and is expected to reach the floor later this month. The legislation establishes enhanced penalties for retailers who sell to minors, including fines up to $1,000 for first violations and $5,000 for repeat offenses. Non-intoxicating CBD products would remain available to adults 18 and older, creating a regulatory distinction between product categories.
Key Provisions:
Age Threshold Change: Raises minimum purchase age to 21 for all hemp-derived intoxicating products while maintaining 18-plus access to non-intoxicating CBD.
Enhanced Retail Penalties: Graduated fine structure with potential license suspension for businesses that repeatedly sell to minors.
ID Verification Requirements: Mandatory government-issued ID checks for all purchasers appearing under 30, with verification records maintained for regulatory inspection.
Additional Hemp Policy Developments
New York AB 3847: Proposes hemp-derived cannabinoid product registration system modeled after New York's supplement and food additive programs. Status: Assembly Health Committee.
Illinois HB 2156: Would establish testing requirements for heavy metals and pesticides in all hemp-derived products sold at retail. Status: Referred to Agriculture Committee.
Pennsylvania SB 789: Creates civil penalties for hemp product labeling violations, with fines ranging from $500 to $2,500 per violation. Status: Consumer Protection Committee.
Beyond Hemp: Other Regulated Products
This week's full policy report includes significant developments affecting kratom regulation (12 bills across 8 states), tobacco and nicotine products (23 bills), CBD in food and beverages (8 bills), synthetic cannabinoid restrictions (15 bills), and consumer protection measures affecting alternative wellness retailers (27 bills). Members operating in multiple product categories should review the complete tracking report for state-specific updates relevant to their business operations.
Categories Covered in Full Report:
- Kratom regulation and age restrictions
- Tobacco, nicotine, and vaping products
- CBD market access and food additive rules
- Synthetic cannabinoid enforcement
- Consumer protection and labeling requirements
- Business licensing and local ordinances
See the Full Weekly Policy Report Here
Take Action
Contact Your Legislators: Direct communication from business owners carries significant weight. Use AHAA's advocacy tools to identify your representatives and send personalized messages about how pending legislation would affect your business and community.
Submit Testimony: Multiple states have opened public comment periods on proposed hemp regulations. Your real-world experience with compliance challenges, testing availability, and economic impact helps educate policymakers.
Prepared by the American Healthy Alternatives Association Tracking hemp policy nationwide to keep our industry informed.
