Colorado's hemp industry is navigating two regulatory changes at once — one at the state level, one federal — and while neither affects what you can buy at a CBD shop today, both are worth understanding before they do.
Colorado's SB26-164: A New Framework for Hemp THC Beverages
Colorado legislators introduced SB26-164, a bill to create a formal regulatory framework for hemp-derived THC beverages. The legislation would establish manufacturing standards, distribution oversight, and point-of-sale requirements for a product category that has grown rapidly with relatively light guardrails.
The bill comes after state investigators found mislabeled products in the market — hemp-derived vape products sold as marijuana-derived, some contaminated with banned substances. Colorado is trying to draw a clearer line between standard CBD wellness products and beverages and products designed to deliver intoxicating THC effects.
For traditional CBD consumers — people buying tinctures, gummies, capsules, and topicals at shops like The CBD Store in Loveland — this legislation doesn't change anything today. It's aimed at a specific segment of the hemp market. But it signals that Colorado regulators are paying attention.
Federal Hemp Definition: A November 2026 Deadline to Watch
Separately, a federal rule scheduled for November 2026 would redefine legal hemp with a much stricter THC threshold. The current standard — 0.3% THC by dry weight — would change to roughly 0.4mg per container under the new rule.
Industry advocates say the new standard would effectively remove most hemp products from legal shelves. Colorado Governor Jared Polis has publicly criticized the rule, and advocacy organizations are actively working to modify or delay it. The outcome is still in flux.
For consumers shopping at Colorado CBD retailers today, nothing has changed. Products on shelves are compliant with current law. But manufacturers and distributors are watching the November deadline closely, and some are already adjusting formulations as a precaution.
What to Ask Your CBD Shop
If you have questions about specific products — what's in them, how they're sourced, and whether upcoming regulations affect them — that's exactly the kind of conversation worth having at a local shop. At The CBD Store in Loveland, every product is third-party lab tested and we carry brands that are transparent about their formulations.
We're open Monday through Saturday, 11am–6pm at 677 E. Eisenhower Blvd. in Loveland, CO. You can also reach us at (970) 966-7939 or browse in-stock products at thecbdstorecompany.com.
