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Important Update: After many years serving this community, we will be sunsetting Northwoods Botanicals this summer due to changing hemp regulations. Products will remain available while supplies last through July 31, 2026. Read more about our decision here.

Hemp Laws Are Changing – Here’s How It Affects You

You’ve probably seen the headlines calling it a “hemp ban,” and we want to share the real story in plain terms:

Just a few days ago (on November 12, 2025), Congress quietly passed a last-minute federal hemp regulation provision as part of a spending bill to re-open the government. This provision changes the legal definition of hemp starting November 2026. Among other aspects, it sets an extremely low limit on naturally occurring THC in hemp products—0.4 milligrams per container. While it is not an outright ban, it will effectively restrict virtually all full-spectrum CBD and CBG wellness products—and many other hemp products—currently on the market. These changes threaten countless small businesses, family farms, and customers who rely on natural alternatives in a world that too often favors pharmaceutical solutions.

We were shocked that this misguided provision was inserted at the last minute and that more elected representatives from both sides of the aisle didn’t speak up strongly for farmers, small businesses, and American consumers. It’s especially troubling that this change wasn’t debated publicly, despite years of calls from responsible hemp industry players for sensible reform and regulation.

Since day one, our focus at Northwoods Botanicals has been on high standards, transparency, and wellness. While some bad actors have given hemp a bad reputation, our brand has always prioritized professionalism. From our start in 2019, we have pre-emptively adopted best practices, including child-resistant packaging, age restrictions (21+), third-party testing on all of our farm’s hemp flowers and our formulated products, clear labeling, and offering only natural wellness products—never synthetic cannabinoids or inebriating products.

No plant should be illegal for responsible adults. We oppose overly restrictive measures on safe, natural plants and support adult access with proper safeguards and sensible regulations.

While we don’t have all the answers, here’s the good news: our hemp products remain legal for now, they continue to meet compliance standards, and the effective date of the new limits is about a year away. You can continue to shop our current selection, though you may see a phased contraction of our offerings over the next several months as we adapt.

Although the writing may be on the wall, nothing is inevitable yet. A future Farm Bill or other actions could correct the overreach of this provision. If you’d like to help protect hemp access, two simple steps are:

  1. Contact your U.S. Representative or Senators (find them at house.gov or senate.gov). A short note like “Please support regulation, not elimination, of safe hemp products” takes only a few minutes.
  2. Get subscribed to our e-newsletter list—we’ll continue sending short, honest updates whenever meaningful changes occur.

For now, we’re here for you, and we encourage you to stock up on your favorite wellness products while they’re available.

Looking ahead, we remain optimistic, even though the livelihoods for the vast majority of U.S. hemp farmers—and small brands like ours—are at stake. The situation is still evolving: federal agencies are issuing guidance, and states may respond differently. We’re not lawyers or policymakers and can’t predict the future, but we are staying informed, following trusted sources, and monitoring developments closely—and will keep you in the loop along the way.

Thank you for supporting our small, Midwestern, family-run hemp farm & brand that prioritizes quality, transparency, and your wellness. We appreciate your trust and understanding during these unpredictable times.