​COPYRIGHT 2026 BY NEWS 8 NOW/NEWS 8000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.


LA CROSSE (WKBT) — A ban on intoxicating hemp product will take effect in November, officially closing a legal loophole that allowed these products to be sold in Wisconsin. 

In 2018, congress passed a bill that legalized many hemp-derived and synthetic THC products, including gummies, vapes, and beverages. 

This gave entrepreneurs like Kyle and Dan Schmitz the chance to open their own business, Happy Day’s Farm LLC. 

“It has made me and my brother very happy to be able to produce these things from our family’s farm to people who come through our doors,” said Dan. 

The Schmitz brothers started their business in 2023. In March, they officially opened their retail store located on the northside of La Crosse. They say business has been good, but they’re worried that a new set of federal rules will change that. 

In November 2025, congress passed a bill that will ban most hemp products that are currently sold in stores. 

“It’ll be basically full spectrum CBD without any of the extra,” said Kyle.

While Happy Days Farms sells CBD products, the brothers say it’s not enough to keep their doors open. 

“How do we pay our bills after November? How do we feed our kids? We are here just doing what we thought we were allowed to do,” Kyle said. 

According to Gov. Tony Evers, the ban could impact more that 3,500 jobs and cripple the states $700 million dollar industry.

Both recreational and medicinal marijuana are illegal in Wisconsin, leaving business owners and customers with limited options. 

Representative Derrick Van Orden told News 8 Now that he’s in favor of the ban but understands the impact it will have on businesses owners. He’s currently working on delaying the ban to give the industry more time to adjust.

“We’re trying to get [it] delayed to make sure that our folks who are using these products and producing these products, have a glide path to make sure that they don’t go out of business and they still have the relief from the products.”

​COPYRIGHT 2026 BY NEWS 8 NOW/NEWS 8000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.