UPS Just Changed Its Hemp Shipping Rules for December 11. Here's What NC Shops and Online Sellers Need to Know.

UPS has updated its shipping terms for hemp ahead of the federal hemp changes scheduled for December 11. Starting that day, raw hemp shipped through UPS will need lab results showing that it contains no more than 0.3 percent total THC on a dry weight basis, including THCA. UPS is the first major carrier to rewrite its hemp terms around the new federal standard, according to Cannabis Business Times.

For North Carolina hemp shops, farms, distributors, and online sellers that rely on parcel shipping, the change matters. This article explains what UPS changed, what stays the same, how it fits with the federal dates, and what businesses can do now. It is for general information and is not legal advice. Shippers should confirm the details directly with UPS.

What UPS Changed in Its Hemp Shipping Policy

UPS's hemp, CBD and marijuana shipping page now includes a requirement that takes effect on December 11, 2026. Raw hemp in plant form must include a certificate of analysis or test results showing a total THC concentration, including THCA, of no more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.

That is a significant change in how THC is measured. According to attorney Michelle Bodian, quoted by Cannabis Business Times, UPS's earlier policy language referred to delta-9 THC under the 2018 Farm Bill, while the new policy uses total THC. Under a delta-9 measure, THCA is not counted. Under a total THC measure, it is.

The new lab result requirement is added to conditions UPS already had in place for raw hemp:

• Pre-approval: UPS accepts raw plant-form hemp only from pre-approved shippers as a contractual service.

• A dedicated account and agreement: shippers must open a dedicated account, provide their licenses and sign a UPS agreement.

• Plain packaging: labels and outer markings must not identify the contents as raw hemp.

• Adult signature: all U.S. shipments containing hemp or hemp derivatives must use UPS Adult Signature Required service.

UPS Rules for Hemp-Derived Products, Vapes and Synthetic Cannabinoids

The certificate requirement applies to raw hemp in plant form, such as flower. For hemp derivatives, such as finished consumer products, UPS says it accepts them only as permitted by applicable federal, state and local laws, and shippers are responsible for having all necessary licenses, registrations and approvals. UPS also says:

• Hemp derivatives meant to be consumed through an aerosolized solution, including vaping products, are prohibited in the U.S. network.

• Synthetic or lab-made cannabinoid compounds and their derivatives are prohibited.

• UPS will not accept hemp or hemp derivatives from any location that sells marijuana or marijuana products.

• Marijuana itself cannot be shipped under any circumstances, even where a state allows it.

UPS also says it may dispose of prohibited shipments and may stop providing service to shippers who send packages that do not comply.

UPS's policy page does not mention the federal 0.4 milligram per container limit by name. However, because UPS requires hemp derivatives to comply with federal law, products that fall outside the federal definition of hemp after December 11 would not meet UPS's conditions for shipping. Businesses should check each product against both the federal rules and UPS's terms.

How the UPS Change Fits With the November 12 and December 11 Federal Dates

The UPS update lines up with the federal hemp changes Congress passed in November 2025 and later delayed by one month:

• November 12: the first set of federal hemp definition changes takes effect, covering intermediate and final hemp-derived cannabinoid products that contain specified cannabinoids that cannot be naturally produced by the cannabis plant.

• December 11: the remaining changes take effect, including the 0.3 percent total THC threshold by dry weight, including THCA, the exclusion of cannabinoids that can occur naturally but were synthesized or manufactured outside the plant, and a 0.4 milligram combined per container limit for total THC and specified other cannabinoids with similar effects in covered finished hemp-derived cannabinoid products.

We explained both dates in our guide to what changes on November 12 and December 11. The UPS lab result requirement for raw hemp begins on December 11, not earlier. Until then, UPS's existing hemp terms continue to apply.

What the UPS Change Means for North Carolina Hemp Businesses

THCa flower is one of the most common hemp products sold in North Carolina. Much of it is marketed as compliant because it meets the current delta-9 THC limit, even though its THCA content is high. Under a total THC test that counts THCA, much of that flower would exceed 0.3 percent. Flowers with total THC above 0.3 percent would fail UPS's stated raw hemp testing requirement taking effect December 11, even if North Carolina adopts a different state regulatory approach. Businesses should check UPS's current terms before shipping.

The change is likely to matter most for:

• Online sellers that ship flowers or other raw hemp directly to customers.

• Farms and processors that ship raw plant material to buyers or labs.

• Distributors and retailers that receive inventory by parcel.

Many North Carolina shops already carry products that could be affected. A count of hemp shops in the Triangle found that 79 of 82 tracked shops listed at least one product category affected by the December 11 changes, as we reported in our story on Triangle hemp shops. Testing standards have also been a question in recent enforcement, as covered in our report on the Stanly County raids.

Raw hemp that meets the new THC threshold may be eligible for shipment through UPS, but meeting the threshold alone does not guarantee acceptance. Shippers must also satisfy UPS's pre-approval, account, agreement, licensing, packaging and adult signature requirements, along with all applicable laws.

What FedEx and USPS Have Said So Far

As of October 20, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service had not followed UPS with similar changes, according to Michelle Bodian, quoted by Cannabis Business Times. The same article notes that USPS and private carriers already bar shipments that do not comply with federal law. Businesses that use FedEx or USPS should check each carrier's current hemp terms directly and watch for updates before December 11.

Steps NC Hemp Businesses Can Take Before December 11

Shipping rules are only one part of planning for December 11, but they can affect a business quickly. Owners can start with these steps:

1. Review your lab results. Check each product's certificate of analysis for total THC, including THCA, not only delta-9 THC.

2. Confirm your UPS account status. If you ship raw hemp, make sure you have the dedicated account, licenses and signed agreement UPS requires, and ask UPS how it will handle shipments after December 11.

3. Check finished products against federal and state rules. Compare edibles, drinks and other derivatives with the federal 0.4 milligram per container limit and any state requirements.

4. Plan inventory shipments. Talk with suppliers and distributors now about what will ship, how and when.

5. Check other carriers' terms. Review FedEx and USPS policies directly rather than assuming they will stay the same.

6. Get legal advice. A lawyer familiar with hemp can review your specific products and shipping practices.

Why State Rules Still Matter for North Carolina

The UPS update shows that private companies are already writing the December 11 federal standards into their own terms. For North Carolina businesses, that makes state rules more important, not less. Clear state requirements for testing, labeling and age limits give businesses and customers a consistent standard to follow, whatever happens at the federal level.

North Carolina's main hemp bill, HB 328, remains in the House Rules, Calendar, and Operations Committee. The House is scheduled to return on October 26, and no vote on the bill has been scheduled. Our guide on how to contact your representative about HB 328 explains how to share your view before the session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still ship hemp through UPS after December 11?

UPS will continue to accept raw hemp from pre-approved shippers with a dedicated account, licenses and a signed agreement, but starting December 11, shipments must include lab results showing no more than 0.3 percent total THC, including THCA, on a dry weight basis. Hemp derivatives must comply with all applicable laws.

Can you ship THCa flower through UPS?

Starting December 11, raw hemp shipped through UPS must test at or below 0.3 percent total THC, including THCA. Flower with THCA levels that put its total THC above that limit would not meet UPS's requirement.

Does UPS allow hemp vapes?

No. UPS prohibits hemp derivatives intended for consumption through an aerosolized solution, including vaping products, in its U.S. network.

Have FedEx and USPS changed their hemp shipping rules?

As of October 20, FedEx and USPS had not made similar changes, according to an attorney quoted by Cannabis Business Times. Both already bar shipments that do not comply with federal law.

When does the new UPS hemp rule start?

The lab result requirement for raw hemp takes effect on December 11, 2026, the same day the remaining federal hemp changes take effect.