In this citybiz Q&A, Scott Mazza, co-founder of Vitality CBD, breaks down the federal regulatory threat facing the hemp industry: a 2025 government shutdown bill quietly replaced the “0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight” standard with a “0.4mg total THC per container” limit, a change that would make gummies, tinctures, vapes, and most hemp extract products federally illegal and jeopardize an estimated $28 billion industry supporting 300,000 jobs. Mazza calls for a two-year extension, argues that quality-based regulation focused on mandatory testing and production standards is more effective than blanket bans, and draws a clear line between non-psychoactive CBD, backed by growing peer-reviewed research on sleep, anxiety, and pain, and recreational THC. He also addresses the quality gap in an underregulated market where nearly 60% of CBD products fail to match their stated potency, explaining the role that USDA organic certification, face-to-face partner vetting, and third-party lab testing play in Vitality CBD’s sourcing approach.