WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan agreement to avert a government shutdown has been jeopardized by a bitter feud within the Republican Party over a controversial, last-minute provision in the federal spending bill that would impose a sweeping ban on hemp-derived products, including popular CBD and THC beverages.
The unexpected inclusion of the provision—which critics allege is a corrupt favor to a powerful, competing industry—has led to several high-profile Republicans breaking ranks and voting against the must-pass funding measure.
The "Unseemly" Tactics
The controversy centers on a section of the bill that would heavily restrict or outright ban the sale of hemp-derived products, a multibillion-dollar industry that has flourished across the country since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp production.
The provision was revealed at the eleventh hour, prompting immediate accusations from dissenting Republicans that the legislative process was being used for corrupt purposes.
"I detest the tactics that are being used to try to get the ban enacted into law," stated Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), one of several Republicans to voice sharp opposition.
Kentucky Delegation Leads the Revolt
The dissent has been particularly strong from Kentucky lawmakers, where the hemp industry represents a significant portion of the agricultural economy.
- Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) publicly broke with the party and voted against the spending bill, citing the damaging provision. He attempted, unsuccessfully, to have the measure stripped from the legislation.
- Representative James Comer (R-KY) and others have also spoken out against the measure, adding pressure on House leadership as they scramble to secure enough votes to end the government shutdown.
Opponents argue that the sudden, non-transparent insertion of the measure suggests a "corrupt cartel" or special interest group—believed to be aligned with the alcohol or traditional cannabis industries—is using legislative leverage to crush a legal competitor.
Infighting Threatens Shutdown Aversion
The public and acrimonious Republican-on-Republican conflict has been described as a micro-level example of the party's broader ideological split between those prioritizing populist anti-corruption efforts and those willing to tolerate "insider" legislative tactics to pass spending bills.
With a slim majority, Republican leadership needs nearly every available vote to pass the spending bill. The dissent from even a handful of Republicans over this alleged "corruption" could result in the bill failing in the House, prolonging the government shutdown and demonstrating the deep, internal fractures within the party's ranks.
The Department of Justice and the sponsors of the restrictive provision have not yet offered a public explanation for its late inclusion.
HARP ON THE TRUTH