Shutdown Deal Threatens to Devastate Georgia's Hemp Industry

As of November 13, 2025, a controversial provision in a recent shutdown deal is poised to devastate Georgia's fast-growing hemp industry. Buried deep in the agreement is a measure that would effectively ban many hemp-derived products, including THC-infused beverages and edibles currently sold across the state.

The 2018 Farm Bill had previously legalized hemp production and interstate transport, allowing Georgia businesses to thrive in this new market. However, the shutdown deal now seeks to reverse that progress by requiring any THC in a product to be directly extracted from the hemp plant and restricted to trace levels. This shift in sourcing, not just potency, could shutter businesses overnight.

One such business is Scofflaw Brewing Co., an Atlanta-based company that pivoted to hemp-derived THC beverages last year to stay afloat. Co-founder Matt Shirah warns that the proposed ban would force them to eliminate positions and cut back on production, potentially costing 101 Georgians their jobs. Among those employees is a Marine Corps veteran who credits these hemp-derived drinks for helping him maintain his sobriety after struggling with PTSD and alcohol abuse.

While the federal ban would not take effect for 12 months, the uncertainty is already rippling through Georgia's hemp and beverage sectors, which collectively employ thousands statewide. Farmers warn that crop contracts for next season may be canceled, and retailers fear they may soon be holding inventory they can no longer sell. The fate of this industry now hangs in the balance as Congress moves toward final passage of the shutdown deal.