A newly enacted federal hemp ban tucked into a sprawling government spending bill signed by President Donald Trump last week is sparking alarm among veterinarians, manufacturers and pet owners—many of whom say the policy could unintentionally jeopardize access to CBD therapies for dogs, cats and other animals who rely on them for serious medical conditions.
The provision, championed by several GOP lawmakers, was pitched as a way to close what they describe as a loophole created by the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp and unintentionally fueled a fast-growing market for intoxicating cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC. While lawmakers focused their rhetoric on gas-station vapes and youth-appealing edibles, industry stakeholders say the language Congress ultimately approved goes far beyond curbing intoxicants.
Instead, they warn, the new restrictions will impose THC limits so strict that producing full-spectrum CBD products may become nearly impossible—effectively eliminating the very formulations many vets and pet owners say their animals depend on.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the architect of hemp legalization, insisted during debate that CBD would be spared under the ban. But hemp growers and product makers say the bill’s THC limit is so low that even non-intoxicating, naturally occurring trace amounts could force them either to abandon production or switch entirely to CBD isolates, which lack the broader mix of cannabinoids and terpenes found in full-spectrum extracts.
“That’s a real problem,” said VetCBD founder and CEO Tim Shu, whose company has treated thousands of animals with arthritis, epilepsy and chronic pain. “The entourage effect appears to be real—and removing those natural compounds can reduce therapeutic benefit. Animals that rely on these products could suffer.”
Shu said full-spectrum CBD has, in some cases, allowed owners to avoid euthanasia when traditional medications failed or caused harmful side effects. Research in recent years has supported CBD’s potential in dogs, showing reduced seizure frequency, improved mobility in arthritic pets and significant drops in stress and travel-related anxiety.
The ban, set to take effect next year, could also chill veterinary guidance nationwide. Shu worries it may undermine state-level progress—such as California’s protections for vets who discuss cannabis—and cut off access for patients in states without regulated marijuana markets.
“The neediest will suffer most,” he said. “This isn’t about gas-station edibles. It’s about real, life-improving medicine for animals who can’t speak for themselves.”
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