Trump, Hemp and the Chief of Staff: New York Times Details Fight Over Federal Ban

The Trump administration is backing an effort to delay federal restrictions on psychotropic hemp products, according to a report published by The New York Times.

The newspaper reports that the proposal has drawn heightened scrutiny because one of the people who could benefit from the delay is the son-in-law of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and the CEO of companies that manufacture and distribute hemp-derived THC products.

The proposed delay was included in a short-term government funding package currently under consideration in the Senate.

If approved, it would postpone implementation of new federal hemp restrictions from Nov. 12 to Dec. 11, giving lawmakers additional time to debate the industry’s regulatory future while temporarily extending the status quo for intoxicating hemp products.

The White House Wants More Time for Hemp

The Times reports that the Trump administration has argued the delay would ensure what it describes as the “fair treatment” of hemp products while Congress continues working on broader legislation.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai told the newspaper that the administration’s position is intended to benefit veterans and patients and denied that lobbying efforts influenced the decision.

The proposed extension would reportedly apply only to naturally derived intoxicating hemp products while allowing restrictions on fully synthetic THC products to proceed as scheduled.

The White House told the Times that Wiles did not lobby Congress on hemp policy.

Separating Political Connections From Industry Advocacy

The political connection highlighted by The Times has understandably drawn attention.

While the article raises questions about political connections surrounding the debate, it does not present evidence that those relationships influenced the administration’s position on hemp policy.

Hemp advocacy is not, by itself, unusual. As the executive of hemp businesses and a board member of industry organizations, lobbying lawmakers and regulators on behalf of the sector is a routine part of representing an industry whose regulatory future remains unsettled.

The more significant question for cannabis businesses and investors may not be whether industry advocates are lobbying Washington—that is expected—but why the administration believes a short delay is warranted, and whether Congress ultimately adopts a longer-term framework for hemp products.

Those policy decisions, rather than the political optics surrounding one industry executive, are likely to have the greatest impact on workers, farmers, patients, operators, retailers and investors.

Congress Remains Divided

The proposed delay has drawn opposition from several Republican senators, according to the Times.

Senators Ted Budd, Tom Cotton, Mike Rounds, and Pete Ricketts have publicly expressed concerns about postponing the restrictions, arguing that intoxicating hemp products present public health and safety risks. At the same time, other lawmakers have suggested they could accept a short extension if it helps avoid a government shutdown.

The outcome remains uncertain as Congress continues negotiating a broader government funding package.

Why It Matters for Cannabis Businesses

The intoxicating hemp market has become one of the industry’s most contentious policy issues, with licensed cannabis companies frequently arguing that hemp-derived THC products compete under significantly lighter regulatory standards.

Whether Congress ultimately allows the restrictions to take effect—or grants the industry additional time—could influence competitive dynamics across cannabis retail, product manufacturing, and federal cannabis policy heading into the remainder of 2026.

With federal hemp policy once again taking center stage in Washington, understanding the political, regulatory, and business forces shaping the industry has never been more important.

Join operators, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders at IgniteIt’s Cannabis Capital & Policy Summit on November 18 in Washington, D.C., where the conversations driving capital, compliance, hemp policy, and federal reform happen before they move the market.

If you want to stay ahead of the curve—not just react to the headlines—learn more and register here: Cannabis Capital & Policy Summit