Key takeaways
Starting Dec. 11, 2026, UPS says raw hemp shipments must include a certificate of analysis showing no more than 0.3% total THC, THCA included, on a dry-weight basis.
UPS takes raw hemp only from pre-approved shippers with a dedicated account, licenses and a signed agreement.
Every U.S. hemp shipment needs Adult Signature Required, and hemp vapes and synthetic cannabinoids are banned from the network.
UPS won't accept hemp from any location that sells marijuana. An attorney tracking the change says USPS and FedEx haven't updated their terms yet.
If you ship hemp flower, biomass or hemp-derived products, one major carrier just moved ahead of the federal deadline. The UPS hemp shipping policy now spells out a total-THC test standard for raw hemp that starts Dec. 11.
The new language is on UPS's Shipping Hemp and Hemp-Derivatives support page. Cannabis Business Times reported it Oct. 20, citing hemp beverage attorney Michelle Bodian, who flagged the change on Oct. 19 and said UPS's older terms used the 2018 Farm Bill's delta-9 THC standard.
What changed in the UPS hemp shipping policy
Delta-9 THC is only part of the picture. THCA turns into delta-9 when it's heated, so a total-THC number counts both. Under the new UPS wording, a flower lot that passes on delta-9 alone can still fail once THCA is added in.
“Effective December 11, 2026, contain the Certificate of Analysis/Test Results demonstrating the product contains a total THC concentration (including tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis.”
THCFarmer notes that USDA guidance already calculates total THC as delta-9 plus THCA multiplied by 0.877. The UPS change applies that standard to the paperwork that travels with the box.
UPS rules for hemp shippers at a glance
Rule | Applies to | When |
|---|---|---|
COA showing 0.3% total THC or less, THCA included, dry weight | Raw hemp | Starting December 11, 2026 |
Pre-approved contract shipper: dedicated account, licenses, signed agreement | Raw hemp | Current policy |
Labels and outer box can't identify the contents as raw hemp | Raw hemp | Current policy |
UPS Adult Signature Required service | All U.S. hemp and hemp-derivative shipments | Current policy |
No products meant to be consumed as an aerosol (vapes) | Hemp derivatives | Current policy |
No synthetic or lab-made cannabinoids | All shipments | Current policy |
No hemp from a location that sells marijuana | All hemp shippers | Current policy |
Must meet state limits, such as New York's Part 114 potency rules | Hemp derivatives | Current policy |
UPS also says it can dispose of shipments it won't accept and cut off shippers who tender noncompliant hemp packages.
Why Dec. 11 matters for hemp businesses
Cannabis Business Times reports that Congress passed legislation in early September that delayed the federal ban on certain hemp-derived products to Dec. 11. UPS's raw hemp date lines up with that deadline.
The 0.3% dry-weight figure for raw hemp isn't the same as the federal limit for finished products. THCFarmer reports that finished hemp-derived products face a 0.4 mg total-THC limit per container, and that a Nov. 12 date still applies to cannabinoids the plant can't produce naturally.
What about USPS and FedEx?
So far, Bodian told Cannabis Business Times, neither USPS nor FedEx has followed UPS. Other vendors are moving too: Policy, Decoded reports that some Minnesota taprooms switched THC drinks to cash only after their point-of-sale provider said it would stop handling those sales.
What this means for operators
Pull total-THC COAs now. Every raw hemp lot you plan to ship after Dec. 11 needs results that count THCA, and the COA goes in the shipment.
Check your UPS account status. Without a dedicated account and signed agreement, UPS doesn't accept raw hemp at all.
Audit your ship-from sites. If a location sells marijuana, UPS won't take hemp or hemp-derivative packages from it.
Pull vapes and synthetic SKUs from UPS fulfillment. Both are already barred from the network.
Budget for adult signature. It's required on every U.S. hemp and hemp-derivative shipment, so build it into your shipping rates.
Line up a backup. Other carriers and payment providers may change their terms before Dec. 11, so don't build your plan around one vendor.
What this means for cannabis workers
If you pack or ship hemp orders, the checklist gets longer: the COA goes inside, the outer box stays unmarked and the label needs adult signature service. Vape products and anything synthetic shouldn't go out through UPS.
Customer service teams may field more questions about delivery attempts, since an adult has to sign for every package.
Related on The Weekly Joint: Illinois will treat hemp over 0.4 mg THC as cannabis starting Nov. 12 · Illinois proposes 45 infuser licenses with a hemp lottery bonus · More hemp coverage · Browse all issues
Sources
This article is general information, not legal advice. Check UPS's current terms and your own counsel before changing how you ship.
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