Sen. Rand Paul is threatening to delay passage of a bipartisan bill that would end the government shutdown over a provision that he says would destroy the hemp industry in his home state of Kentucky.
His opposition to the measure, which would effectively recriminalize consumer hemp products, also puts him at odds with his home-state colleague, Sen. Mitch McConnell, whom Paul called out by name Monday while speaking with reporters.
“The language that Sen. McConnell has put into the bill basically will kill the hemp industry nationwide,” Paul said. “It’s a $25 billion industry, and they’re going to outlaw it in one sentence.”