1. United States
2. Wisc.
3. Letter

Hello, I’m writing to strongly oppose the last-minute rider added to the federal spending bill that would effectively criminalize most hemp-derived THC and cannabinoid products nationwide. This kind of major policy change does not belong hidden inside a must-pass appropriations bill, and I am asking you to remove it immediately. This rider would overturn the will of voters and state legislatures across the country by undermining legal hemp and cannabis programs that millions of people rely on — including veterans, chronic pain patients, people with disabilities, and those with limited access to traditional healthcare. Many Americans depend on these products for safe sleep, pain relief, seizure control, and harm-reduction alternatives. Stripping access through a back-door maneuver is unacceptable. Beyond public health, this amendment would destroy tens of thousands of jobs, wipe out small businesses, destabilize a $28-billion-plus legal industry, and harm farmers who followed federal guidance after the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp. It punishes law-abiding businesses and consumers instead of addressing actual public safety concerns. Regardless of personal views on cannabis, Congress should not use a budget bill to force sweeping new criminal penalties or override state policy. Major regulatory changes deserve transparent debate, stakeholder input, and standalone legislation — not stealth language buried in appropriations. I am asking you to: 1. Remove the anti-hemp/anti-THC language from the spending bill, 2. Protect existing state-legal hemp and cannabis markets, and 3. Support evidence-based, transparent policymaking instead of last-minute riders. Please reject this attempt to roll back hemp and cannabis access nationwide. This is bad policy, bad process, and bad governance. Thank you, and I look forward to your response.