Write your US Senators + Representatives Today and Let Them Know You’re Opposed to Sec 781: https://democracy.io/#!
Hey Fam,
I wanted to write you all and give you a little bit of insight on what has been brewing behind the scenes here at NASC as we react to the recent legislative changes regarding hemp and cannabis seeds.
On Nov 11, our government reopened (yay!), and with that came some unfortunate news for the cannabis seed and hemp industries (very sad…): per Sec 781 of the FY 2026 Agricultural Appropriations Bill, hemp seeds will no longer be defined based upon the dry weight basis of the seed itself, it will now be defined by the THC content of the mother plant it came from.
Here’s a quick and simplified breakdown of the difference:
THEN: (2018 - Present)
The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as any part of the cannabis sativa L plant that contains less than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis.
NOW: (Nov 2026 and Beyond)
The FY 2026 Agricultural Appropriations Bill largely retains the previous definition of hemp established in the 2018 Farm Bill; however, it adds several exclusions, one of which redefines cannabis seeds in particular. Sec. 781, Exclusion C states that seeds will no longer be defined as hemp if the plant the seeds came from contains more than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis.
While wholly unscientific by nature, and very hard to regulate, this new definition of hemp will make virtually all cannabis seeds federally illegal, making it illegal to purchase and share cannabis genetics across state lines. This legislation will impact both seeds and clones.
OUR POSITION: When it comes to seeds in particular, we take great issue with this new law. Our legislators voted on this impactful bill with no consideration for the industry and the millions of people this will affect both personally and professionally. They did not consult any of us, and instead, quietly pushed this through as part of a much larger resolution to reopen and fund our government.
Now we have 365 days to backtrack. We have to come together. We have to try to right this ill-conceived wrong before it impacts our lives and our livelihoods. It is our collective voices that will make a difference, and we are urging everyone who cares about cannabis and about genetics to bring visibility to this issue in any way you can, and make your opinions and your stories heard.
Most importantly, we urge you to write to your legislators: your local US Representatives and Senators. Call them. Let them know you oppose Sec 781 and tell them how you feel. Below you will find a quick and easy link to do so:
COMPELLING TALKING POINTS:
This bill will cripple a multi-billion dollar industry. Seeds are the foundation from which everything is derived and grows. We need to retain our ability to possess and share genetics, and this outright ban is totally unprecedented for many reasons:
- This law is unscientific and will be very challenging to regulate. It’s impossible to predict the THC content of a cannabis seed based upon its parents, especially down to the tenth of a percentile. Genetics do not work that way. There is so much variability at play. For that reason alone, this law is unsustainable, and it forces farmers and home growers to participate in a guessing game where the stakes are federal prosecution.
- Historically as a country, we do not ban things based upon what they could become. We regulate them based on what they are. Cannabis seeds do not contain THC; they do not get people high. Furthermore, cannabis is legal in some capacity in the majority of the United States. This law is crippling to business people and medical patients who are only trying to do their jobs and get by as honestly as the next person. The onus is on us, as US citizens, to follow our state and local laws. This law punishes hundreds of millions of people by prohibiting a seed based on the hypothetical scenario in which someone living in a state where cannabis is illegal might take the seed, spend 6 months growing it out in their basement, and then consume it. Where does the harm really lie here?
Thank you all for your willingness to educate and bring visibility to this issue. Now is the time, and we urge you to join us in this movement to free cannabis seeds.
Beth
Join NASC in the Movement to Free Cannabis Seeds!
Write your US Congresspeople Today: https://democracy.io/#!
