Pennsylvania attorney general calls on Congress to preserve federal hemp product ban

State's top law enforcement official pushes back against unregulated hemp-derived cannabinoid market amid ongoing state-level cannabis expansion.

FILE — statehouse · B.D. Gilfry / CC BY-SA 2.0

Pennsylvania's attorney general is urging Congress to maintain the federal ban on hemp-derived cannabinoid products, according to reporting by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. The appeal signals concern about unregulated products entering the market outside the state's controlled medical cannabis framework, which operates 181 retail dispensaries as of August.

The push comes as Pennsylvania's cannabis sector expands: Cresco Labs reported 5.9% Q2 revenue growth driven partly by dispensary acquisitions, while Vireo Growth and Green Thumb have recently secured or opened retail locations. The state has also explored licensing reforms, including a July bill aimed at awarding medical marijuana permits to small and diverse businesses.

The tension suggests state regulators worry that loosely governed hemp products could undermine confidence in licensed dispensaries and create enforcement gaps. Watch whether Congress responds to similar state-level calls, and whether Pennsylvania clarifies how it intends to police hemp derivatives sold at non-licensed retailers.