A new Medicare pilot program covers hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products to treat certain patients, even as Congress is moving forward with a law that will effectively wipe those same products off the market.

The resulting policy quagmire threatens patient access, undermines the work of entrepreneurs and highlights a deeper truth: Hemp already plays a role in American health care, whether federal lawmakers are ready to acknowledge it or not.

Millions of Americans across the country are using full-spectrum CBD products not for recreation, but for relief. A recent policy explainer from Pacific Legal Foundation shows that CBD use spans every region and demographic group, with Americans turning to it to manage pain, anxiety, sleep disorders and other conditions.

For those managing chronic conditions, CBD can offer a lower-risk alternative to more intensive interventions. In fact, some survey data suggests a majority of adults have tried CBD, and many report using it specifically to address medical ailments and eliminate their dependence on over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

CBD use for health care purposes is not a fringe movement. It is a nationwide phenomenon of informed adults seeking more choice in health care.

Medicare recognized CBD's benefits. And then ...

Older Americans, including many Medicare enrollees, make up a substantial share of CBD consumers.

These are........

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