U.S. Virgin Islands — Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea has joined Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, and a bipartisan coalition of 34 other attorneys general in a letter to congressional leaders urging them to preserve the federal redefinition of hemp and reject any effort to delay, repeal, suspend, or weaken the reforms Congress enacted to address intoxicating hemp-derived products.
In a letter sent to congressional leadership and the chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the coalition thanks Congress for closing the loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed unregulated intoxicating hemp products to proliferate nationwide and urges lawmakers to ensure the new definition remains in effect.
“The U.S. Virgin Islands supports a regulatory framework that protects the public while providing clarity for responsible businesses,” said Attorney General Rhea. “Preserving Congress’s updated definition of hemp helps close a dangerous loophole that allowed intoxicating hemp-derived products to enter the marketplace with limited oversight. Maintaining this framework promotes consistency, strengthens consumer protections, and gives states the certainty they need to effectively enforce the law.”
Congress acted in 2025 to establish a clearer and more responsible framework for hemp regulation. The coalition’s letter explains that states, federal agencies, businesses, and consumers have already begun adjusting to the revised definition and that many states have aligned, or are in the process of aligning, their laws and enforcement efforts with the new federal standard.
The attorneys general warn that reopening the loophole or weakening the revised definition would create regulatory uncertainty, increase litigation, disrupt lawful businesses that have already adapted to the new framework, and allow the return of unregulated intoxicating hemp products to the marketplace.
In their letter, the attorneys general urge Congress to maintain the November 2025 redefinition of hemp and reject any effort to reopen the loophole that Congress previously acted to close. They argue that preserving the current framework will provide regulatory certainty, protect public safety, and support a uniform national approach to hemp regulation.
In addition to the U.S. Virgin Islands, the attorneys general of the following states and territories also signed the letter: Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
A copy of the letter is attached here.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2026
Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340) 774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov