Minnesota hemp business leaders say their industry will shutter if Congress passes a proposed deal to reopen the government.

That’s because a federal ban on hemp-derived cannabinoid products has made its way into negotiations to end the federal government shutdown. The deal introduces a cap of 0.4 milligrams of THC per container for hemp products, which local hemp producers say will decimate their businesses.

“The low-dose beverages we have might be three or four milligrams in a can. So this would be point four, right? So there's just kind of nothing there. I mean, it's kind of like drinking an NA beer,” said Omar Ansari, president of Minneapolis-based Surly Brewing Company.

He says the company has already had a client put a hold on their orders because of the congressional deal.

“This

See Full Page