New Legislation Would Let Small Cannabis Producers Ship Directly to Consumers

Re-introduced legislation is aiming to protect the shipping of cannabis products from small businesses to consumers, once the nation’s cannabis prohibition is fully ended and all cannabis-related Federal criminal penalties are removed (1). The bill, titled the Small and Homestead Independent Producers Act of 2025 (“SHIP Act”), was introduced by Representative Jared Huffman on July 22, 2025, and co-sponsored by Representative Val Hoyle. The bill aims “to provide authority for small cultivators of cannabis and small manufacturers of cannabis products to ship cannabis and cannabis products using the mail, and for other purposes” (1).

Cannabis may not be delivered to anyone under the age of 21, the text of the bill states, and the USPS or other commercial carriers could be utilized, though the shipments could only be made across state lines where cannabis is legal. States that retain laws against cannabis would not be able to prevent transport of cannabis between states.

“Larger, commercialized cannabis operators are infiltrating the market and squeezing out our local farmers in the process,” stated Representative Jared Huffman in a July 22 press release (2). “So when the antiquated federal prohibition on cannabis finally gets repealed, we need to have substantial legislation ready to help these small businesses survive. My legislation would ensure that folks can ship their products straight to consumers, which would both help expand small businesses and ensure farmers stay afloat. When full legalization is guaranteed, we must commit to not leaving our smallest family-farmers behind.”

The bill outlines several conditions and definitions. For example, a small cultivator is considered someone who farms no more than one acre of mature cannabis canopy outdoors; no more than 22,000 square feet or less of canopy in a greenhouse; or no more than 5,000 square feet of canopy through indoor cultivation. A small manufacturer is considered someone who produces a gross annual revenue of no more than $5,000,000 from cannabis products, which include salve, tinctures, edibles, or concentrates.

The press release also lists 15 organizations that endorse the SHIP Act of 2025.

“Nearly 15 years into the experiment of state-level cannabis legalization, the cracks in the system are clear: small and craft producers are being pushed to the margins, safe access for consumers and patients is shrinking, and the industry is consolidating into the hands of a few,” stated Ross Gordon, Co-Founder at National Craft Cannabis Coalition and Policy Analyst at Origins Council. “Without direct-to-consumer shipping, federal cannabis legalization risks reinforcing these failures instead of correcting them. The SHIP Act is a make-or-break policy for the future of small cannabis businesses in California and across the country.”

A similar bill, HR 8825, was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Huffman in September 2022 (3).

References

1. Small and Homestead Independent Producers Act of 2025. https://huffman.house.gov/imo/media/doc/ship_act_bill_text.pdf (accessed July 30, 2025).
2. Huffman, J. Rep. Huffman Introduces Bill to Protect Small Farmers and Producers https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-huffman-introduces-bill-to-protect-small-farmers-and-producers (accessed July 30, 2025).
3. Congress.gov. H.R.8825 - Small and Homestead Independent Producers Act of 2022 https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8825/text (accessed July 30, 2025).