Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin is leading a bipartisan coalition of 35 attorneys general urging Congress to preserve federal hemp reforms enacted in 2025 and reject efforts to reopen loopholes involving intoxicating hemp products.
The letter warns that reversing the current federal definition of hemp could create regulatory uncertainty, disrupt businesses that have already adapted to the law and allow unregulated intoxicating hemp products to return to store shelves.
Griffin is leading the effort alongside Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez.
“Congress was absolutely right when it acted last year and adopted a clearer, more responsible framework for hemp regulation,” Griffin said. “States, businesses, consumers, and regulators have spent months adapting to the impending new standard, and many states have aligned their laws accordingly.”
Griffin warned that reopening the loophole could create confusion, lead to litigation and undermine efforts to protect consumers.
“The bottom line is simple: Republicans and Democrats across the country agree that intoxicating hemp products shouldn’t be accessible to our kids,” Griffin said. “We urge federal lawmakers to maintain the current definition of hemp and support a consistent national approach that protects public safety.”
According to the letter, changing the federal definition after states and businesses have spent months preparing for the new standard could produce conflicting regulations and financial uncertainty.
The coalition is asking federal lawmakers to maintain the existing definition of hemp and support a consistent national policy intended to protect children and consumers while providing regulatory certainty for legitimate hemp businesses.
Joining Griffin, Rokita, Tong and Torrez are the attorneys general representing Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
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