The Kitchen Stays Open: What's Next for Chef Matt After the Hemp Ban

You've probably heard: the federal rules for hemp THC are changing. Starting December 11, 2026, finished hemp products are capped at 0.4 mg of total THC per container. That changes the edible business for a lot of companies, including mine.

So people keep asking me the same question: Is Chef Matt going away?

No. The kitchen stays open.

What's changing

Most hemp-derived THC edibles sold online today contain far more than 0.4 mg per package. Under the new federal definition, products over that limit are no longer treated as legal hemp. If you want the details, read Hemp THC Ban 2026: What Changes Nov 12 & Dec 11 and the Hemp THC Ban FAQ.

What isn't changing

I was a chef before I sold a single product, and I'll be a chef after. Products were one way to share my food. They were never the whole thing.

Here's what keeps going:

• Catering and private chef work: private dinners, mixers, cooking classes, buffets and any food event, in any state. See how booking works.
• Cooking classes: hands-on lessons for couples, groups and teams. Learn more.
• Expos, panels and brand events: Book me to cook or speak.
• The cookbook: The Art of Nano Infusion, my method and 19 recipes for cooking with cannabis where it's legal for you.
• This blog: recipes, technique and straight answers, every week.

Why I'm not worried

The thing that made my work different was never the THC. It was the food. Anyone can buy an ingredient. Knowing what to do with it is the part that lasts.

That's been true since a backyard barbecue in Long Beach, and it's still true now.

Stay in the loop

Follow me on Instagram at @chefmatt2.0 for what I'm cooking next.

Thanks for eating with me. The best part is still coming.

— Chef Matt

This post is general information about changing rules, not legal advice. Laws vary by state.