What changed
Federal law moves the hemp line from the plant to the finished product. Pub. L. 119-37 div. B sec. 781 (7 U.S.C. 1639o) redefines hemp on a total THC basis that includes THCA, and excludes any final hemp-derived cannabinoid product containing "greater than 0.4 milligrams combined total per container" of total tetrahydrocannabinols (including tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) and any other cannabinoids with similar effects. The limit is per container, not per serving and not per percent.
The law starts in two steps. Pub. L. 119-103 sec. 2019 kept the original date, November 12, 2026, only for cannabinoids "not capable of being naturally produced" by the plant, such as HHC, THC-O and THC acetate. Everything else starts on December 11, 2026: the 0.4 mg rule, and cannabinoids that occur in the plant but are made outside it, such as delta-8, delta-10 and THCP converted from CBD.
Status as of October 12, 2026: the FDA lists of naturally produced and similar-effect cannabinoids are overdue, according to a Congressional Research Service report of September 28, 2026. H.R. 7010 and other bills to delay, change or repeal the law have been introduced only. The White House has reportedly committed to no further extensions.
No CBD carve-out
The statute has no CBD exemption. Full-spectrum CBD products are in scope, and most of them fail, because even a small THC share adds up to more than 0.4 mg in a bottle. Topicals and pet products are in scope too. Only industrial hemp uses (fiber, grain, seed oil and similar) and FDA-approved drugs are exempt.
Two ways to count THCA
USDA's rule (7 CFR 990.1) counts total THC as delta-9 plus 0.877 times THCA. The statute names no factor. So this page shows two totals: the USDA basis (THCA × 0.877) and a strict basis (THCA × 1.0). If the product is over the limit on the USDA basis it is over. If it is under on the USDA basis but over on the strict basis, the result is borderline and depends on the factor, with no federal guidance yet.
Flower, bulk and lab limits
Flower and pre-rolls also face a plant-level test: delta-9 plus 0.877 times THCA, plus isomers, above 0.3 percent dry weight means the material is not hemp at any container size. A 20 percent THCA jar fails by a wide margin. Bulk or intermediate products, such as distillate, use a 0.3 percent combined limit instead, and any bulk product marketed to consumers is excluded outright.
A lab result of "not detected" proves little if the lab's limit of quantitation is coarse. If the LOQ times the container size is above 0.4 mg, the result is indeterminate: you cannot prove the product is under. For a 12 oz can, the LOQ must be at or under about 1.1 mg/L.
Why delta-9-only COAs mislead
Many certificates of analysis list only delta-9 THC, because the old rule counted only delta-9 at 0.3 percent of dry weight. A flower jar that shows 0.2 percent delta-9 can still hold 20 percent THCA. A 3.5 g jar at 20 percent THCA holds about 614 mg of total THC on the USDA basis, more than a thousand times the cap. A gummy pack with a few milligrams of delta-9 per piece is far over once you multiply by the count in the container. Always read the THCA line, and look for the sum.
What to do in the weeks you have left
1. Take inventory
List every SKU, the units on hand, and how fast each one sells. Enter them above. The planner compares weeks to sell with weeks to the deadline and flags what is at risk.
2. Check labels
Compare the label claims to the lab numbers on a total THC basis. Fix mislabeled servings and container counts. A label that says 5 mg per serving tells a buyer nothing about the container total, so print the number of servings clearly and keep the claim consistent with the lab report.
3. Refresh the COAs
Ask your lab for a report that lists delta-9, THCA, delta-8 and other isomers in mg per container. Keep the batch number matched to the product.
4. Review listings
Check your web store, marketplace and delivery listings. Pause or change anything over the limit, and remove claims you cannot back up.
5. Call your distributors
Ask what they will take back, what they will keep shipping, and what dates they use. Agree on returns in writing, and keep a dated record of each call, so you can show what you did and when.
State rules differ
Federal law is one layer. Texas, Tennessee, California and New Jersey already count THCA, so a flower SKU can fail state law today. California has banned hemp flower, pre-rolls and inhalables since January 1, 2026. In New Jersey, intoxicating hemp beverages become unlawful from November 13, 2026. Minnesota keeps lower-potency hemp edibles legal under state law, although the federal change still affects banking and shipping. Nevada and Florida have their own rules and licenses. This tool does not give state advice, and a product that passes the federal check may still be restricted where you sell it.
About this calculator
The math: total THC per container is delta-9 plus THCA (× 0.877, and × 1.0 on the strict basis) plus delta-8 plus other isomers, summed across the whole container. Percent results are multiplied by net weight, where 1 g is 1,000 mg. Results given in mg per serving are multiplied by servings per container. CBD is shown but is not counted as THC. For a drink, a percent result uses the volume in mL as if 1 mL weighs 1 g, so use mg per serving when you have it. Percent for the plant-level test uses net weight as a stand-in for dry weight.
This is a calculator, not legal advice; the statute controls. Last checked: October 12, 2026. Rules version 2026-10-12-v2.
Frequently asked questions
What is the new federal hemp THC limit?
Pub. L. 119-37 div. B sec. 781 (7 U.S.C. 1639o) excludes final hemp-derived cannabinoid products containing "greater than 0.4 milligrams combined total per container" of total tetrahydrocannabinols (including tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) and similar-effect cannabinoids. The plant itself must stay at or under 0.3 percent total THC on a dry weight basis.
What are the deadlines?
Per Pub. L. 119-103 sec. 2019, November 12, 2026 applies only to cannabinoids not capable of being naturally produced by the plant, such as HHC, THC-O and THC acetate. December 11, 2026 applies to everything else, including the 0.4 mg rule and converted delta-8, delta-10 and THCP.
Why is THCA counted as THC?
The statute counts total tetrahydrocannabinols including tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. USDA's rule (7 CFR 990.1) uses delta-9 plus 0.877 times THCA. The statute names no factor, so this page also shows a strict basis with THCA × 1.0 and calls a result borderline when the two bases disagree.
Is the limit per serving or per container?
Per container, meaning the innermost retail package such as a can, jar, bottle or cartridge. A 10 mg gummy is one serving, but a bottle of 30 holds 300 mg. The calculator multiplies by servings so you see the container total.
Which products count as converted or not naturally produced?
Cannabinoids the plant cannot produce, such as HHC, THC-O and THC acetate, end on November 12, 2026. Cannabinoids the plant can make but that were made outside it, such as delta-8, delta-10 or THCP converted from CBD, end on December 11, 2026. Delta-8 above zero is treated as converted unless the maker documents plant-extracted origin. The FDA lists that would settle edge cases are overdue.
Is there a CBD exemption?
No. Full-spectrum CBD products are in scope and most fail the 0.4 mg rule. Topicals and pet products are in scope too. Only industrial hemp uses and FDA-approved drugs are exempt. CBD itself is not added to total THC.
What does a lab result of not detected prove?
Only what the lab could measure. If the limit of quantitation times the container size is above 0.4 mg, you cannot prove the product is under the limit. For a 12 oz can the LOQ must be at or under about 1.1 mg/L.
Could the dates change again?
H.R. 7010 and other bills to delay, change or repeal the law have been introduced only, according to a Congressional Research Service report of September 28, 2026. The White House has reportedly committed to no further extensions. Plan for the dates above.
Does this page store or send my data?
No. Everything runs in your browser and the page blocks network connections. Your entries live in the page address after the hash, so the link you copy holds them, and nobody else sees them unless you share the link.
Can I rely on the result for compliance?
No. It is an estimate from the numbers you type. Lab methods, rounding, the FDA lists and state law can change the answer. This is not legal advice. Use it to find what to check, then confirm with your lab and a lawyer.