NOW PLAYING
Vice President Vance met with Senate Republicans at the Capitol on Thursday to discuss how to move the Republican agenda, which has stalled in part because of a fierce intraparty fight over delaying a ban on hemp-derived, intoxicating products, such as delta-8 THC.
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) invited Vance to speak to GOP colleagues at the lunch meeting hosted in the Mansfield Room just off the Senate floor.
Vance was met with a round of applause from GOP senators when he walked into the wood-empaneled room.
A person with knowledge of the meeting said the vice president was expected to talk about the proposal pushed by the White House to delay the implementation of a ban on hemp-derived products, such as delta-8 THC gummies and vapes, which are often sold at gas stations.
The language is attached to a stopgap measure to fund the government through Dec. 11, and the fight has delayed action on the bill.
The battle over delaying the ban on hemp-derived THC products pits the White House and some Republicans, such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who says the ban would hurt Kentucky’s hemp industry, against GOP senators who warn that delta-8 and similar substances pose a danger to the public.
Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) is pushing for a vote on an amendment to strip out language delaying the ban.
He said he has picked up Democratic co-sponsors and is working on a deal with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to get a vote on the amendment.
“Working on it, working on it,” he said. “We’ve now got Dem co-sponsorships on the amendment.”
Budd said the amendment would be germane and should be adopted to the government funding package with a simple-majority vote.
Budd said he spoke with President Trump earlier this week to convey opposition to delaying the ban on hemp-derived THC products.
The North Carolina senator suggested White House staff members pushing to delay the implementation of the ban are muddying the issue.
“I would ask the White House Office of Legislative Affairs to actually be very clear on this, especially with their boss,” he said.
Add as preferred source on Google Tags Bernie Moreno Ted BuddCopyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments: Link copiedMore Senate News
See All
Energy & Environment Republicans vote down farm bill amendment enabling lawsuits against pesticide companies, a blow to MAHA by Rachel Frazin 23 minutes ago Energy & Environment / 23 minutes ago 
