10th Circuit: 2018 Farm Bill Does Not Preempt Wyoming Hemp THC Limits

Federal court ruling affirms Wyoming's authority to enforce stricter THC standards than the USDA's hemp baseline.

FILE — enforcement · Auckland Museum / CC BY 4.0

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the 2018 Farm Bill does not preempt Wyoming's hemp THC regulations, according to Cannabis Business Times. The decision suggests states retain authority to impose THC limits more stringent than the federal 0.3% dry-weight standard, a finding with implications for Wyoming's ongoing restrictions on high-potency products.

The ruling appears to bolster Wyoming's legal position amid recent state-level enforcement activity. In April 2026, Casper cannabis shops faced a crackdown on high-THC products, and a Wyoming lawmaker sought to revisit broader marijuana policy in August 2026, according to Oil City News and the Billings Gazette respectively. However, a marijuana edibles bill died in the Wyoming House in August, underscoring the state's mixed regulatory posture.

Watch whether this 10th Circuit affirmation prompts Wyoming lawmakers to clarify or tighten hemp-derived THC rules—particularly around edibles and hemp-derived cannabinoids—or if enforcement agencies use the ruling to justify heightened product seizures and shop compliance actions.