The Libertarian Party of Minnesota has come out against federal hemp prohibition, adopting a resolution that denounces changes to federal hemp law that restrict production and sales and calls for expanded access to hemp and cannabis products.
In a December 3 statement sharing the full text of the measure, the party said it supports “nullification and peaceful non-compliance efforts” by both state and local governments and private citizens. According to the text, the document was originally adopted by the state Executive Committee on November 17 and outlines the party’s concerns about economic and medical impacts and its view that federal restrictions would criminalize otherwise law-abiding individuals.
Minnesota launched a hemp pilot program in 2016 under the state’s Industrial Hemp Development Act, which was later expanding into full commercial production after the 2018 federal Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. However, on November 12, President Donald Trump signed H.R. 5371, a government funding bill that fundamentally redefines the substance under federal law, effectively outlawing nearly all intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid products by late 2026.
The new definition caps total THC content in finished hemp products and bans many items such as hemp-derived edibles, vapes, and beverages. It also gives producers, retailers, and consumers roughly a one-year grace period, after which they could face federal penalties or loss of legal access. The change could have far-reaching economic effects, with the U.S. hemp industry reportedly valued at around $28 billion in annual revenue.
The Libertarian Party of Minnesota warns that any attempt to reclassify hemp or impose new federal controls would put the state’s regulatory framework at risk and disrupt businesses that have operated legally for years. It argues that prohibition has historically fueled black-market activity and created new enforcement burdens rather than reducing public demand.
The party further warns that individuals who rely on hemp-derived products for medical purposes could face reduced access or criminal penalties under stricter federal rules, “making criminals of law abiding citizens who are not engaging in activities where another is victimized as a result” and harming those who have used hemp for medical relief when other treatments have failed.
The resolution reiterates the state Libertarian Party’s positions on cannabis and drug policy. It calls for the end of cannabis prohibition nationwide and supports efforts by states and local governments to decline participation in federal enforcement through nullification.
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