Minnesota's hemp businesses have until December 11 before a federal change threatens the THC drinks and edibles they sell. Congress already delayed the deadline by a month. Excellent. The government has upgraded the crisis from immediate to available for pre-order.

CBS Minnesota reports that a provision in last year's government-reopening deal excludes products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC from the federal definition of hemp. Many products on Minnesota shelves contain five milligrams per serving under the state's rules.

So businesses followed one set of regulations, built a market, and now need Congress to hurry up and clarify whether the market can continue existing. That's a peculiar small-business development program. Usually the helpful seminar doesn't end with a countdown clock.

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Minnesota recorded $180 million in hemp-product retail sales last year. Industry representatives say some businesses are already cutting staff or stopping production. A Minneapolis coffee shop stopped selling THC products after its payment provider, Square, told it to; Square says it began warning sellers in August.

The deadline hasn't arrived. The consequences have excellent punctuality.

Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith helped secure the delay. Klobuchar says she's pursuing bipartisan legislation with Republican colleagues. A fix remains possible. It hasn't passed.

Fine. Negotiate. Regulate the products. Write the rules. But a business cannot pay employees with the encouraging news that a senator is working very hard on the concept of next month.

The industry is asking Congress, at minimum, for more time while it settles the regulations. What a deranged place to arrive: selling a legal drink requires a business plan, a payment processor and somebody continuously checking whether Washington has found the fucking calendar.