VI Lawmakers Revisit THC Ban Bill After Sweeping Federal Redefinition of Hemp

An amended version of Bill 36-0105 was sent back to the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice, and Public Safety on Thursday, despite having been forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary in September. The measure, sponsored by Senator Clifford Joseph, revises Title 7, Chapter 13, Subchapter III of the Virgin Islands Code to prohibit the possession, sale, or manufacture of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, delta-6 THC, delta-8 THC, and delta-10 THC products in the territory. The bill’s return to committee follows sweeping federal action last month that redefined hemp in a way that effectively bans intoxicating hemp products nationwide. On November 12, President Donald Trump signed the 2026 Extensions Act, which narrowed the definition of hemp to exclude any product containing detectable levels of tetrahydrocannabinols or other intoxicating cannabinoids. The change, which ended a 43-day federal shutdown, has reshaped a $28 billion national industry and has already prompted territo...