{"id":52800,"date":"2022-02-08T04:20:47","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T12:20:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/02\/08\/hemp-could-have-more-thc-under-new-congressional-bill-that-aims-to-fix-regulatory-issues-for-expanding-industry\/"},"modified":"2022-02-08T13:46:03","modified_gmt":"2022-02-08T21:46:03","slug":"hemp-could-have-more-thc-under-new-congressional-bill-that-aims-to-fix-regulatory-issues-for-expanding-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/02\/08\/hemp-could-have-more-thc-under-new-congressional-bill-that-aims-to-fix-regulatory-issues-for-expanding-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Hemp Could Have More THC Under New Congressional Bill That Aims To Fix Regulatory Issues For Expanding Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A new congressional bill seeks to build upon the federal legalization of hemp by providing cannabis businesses with additional flexibility that\u2019s been sought after by industry stakeholders, as well as remove a controversial ban on market participation by people with prior drug convictions.<\/p>\n

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) filed the Hemp Advancement Act on Tuesday. The legislation would provide several critical reforms, including by increasing the legal THC threshold for hemp products from the current 0.3 percent to 1 percent on a dry weight basis.<\/p>\n

It could additionally, however, upend the growing market for delta-8 THC products by officially counting the isomer in allowable THC amounts.<\/p>\n

It would also address an issue related to THC levels for in-process hemp.<\/p>\n

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NEWS: I just introduced the Hemp Advancement Act because the industry has been stunted by unworkable & overly complicated regulations. <\/p>\n

These 3 commonsense changes would create a clear path forward for the nation’s hemp farmers & producers \"⤵\"\"🌿\" pic.twitter.com\/P4QU1OZXBL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (@chelliepingree) February 8, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Businesses previously raised concerns about the THC threshold prescribed under existing federal statute because the process of hemp extraction can temporarily raise the THC content in a crop in a way that could make them liable for enforcement action. Under Pingree\u2019s bill, in-process hemp would not be subject to any THC limits as long as the final product doesn\u2019t exceed one percent.<\/p>\n

The proposal would also remove a requirement under the 2018 Farm Bill that the crop can only be tested at laboratories registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration, a prohibitive policy that the lawmaker highlighted with a supplementary map showing the limited number of such facilities across the country.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere are insufficient testing facilities. Right here in Maine, we don\u2019t have one at all\u2014and there\u2019s two that cover all of New England,\u201d Pingree told Marijuana Moment in a phone interview on Monday, adding that there are non-DEA-certified labs that are \u201cperfectly capable of doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo eliminate this DEA requirement would take away one more obstacle that farmers are currently facing,\u201d she said. \u201cAgain, it takes it out of this realm of, you know, \u2018this is [about] dealing drugs.\u2019 This is an agricultural crop. Let\u2019s assess it for appropriate reasons, but we don\u2019t have to make it so sinister that everything has to be done by the DEA.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Did you know there are just *two* DEA testing labs in all of New England and none in Maine? My #Hemp<\/a> Advancement Act would ensure growers have more testing options that are closer to home.
\u00a0
Read more in today’s @PressHerald<\/a> \"🪴\" https:\/\/t.co\/HRZ03K3D6z<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/iN9ZCnnPL2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (@chelliepingree) February 8, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Finally, the legislation would remove a provision of the Farm Bill that prohibits participation in the hemp industry for people who\u2019ve faced drug-related felony convictions in the past 10 years. Advocates have argued that the policy unnecessarily perpetuates racial disparities by excluding people from communities that have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis ban treats hemp as if it was a controlled substance, and that people are trying to somehow engage in drug dealing or nefarious activities,\u201d Pingree said. \u201cAs we all know, hemp is an agricultural crop, it has a whole different purpose. And like all agricultural enterprises right now, we have a labor shortage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014
\nMarijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nLearn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
\n\u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTo prohibit people with what seems like a very antiquated, backwards rule, it\u2019s just damaging to the industry and for those individuals who want to participate,\u201d the congresswoman said. \u201cI hope we see smooth sailing on eliminating that ban.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bill is being backed by more than a dozen major hemp and cannabis groups, including the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, Americans for Safe Access and Hemp Industries Association.<\/p>\n

Pingree said that she\u2019s had conversations with colleagues on both sides of the aisle and feels the legislation will enjoy the same level of bipartisan support that the hemp legalization provision of the 2018 Farm Bill saw.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope that we have plenty of bipartisan buy-in because there was so much enthusiasm in the beginning,\u201d the congresswoman said. \u201cAnd in many states around the country\u2014places like Maine, places like Kentucky\u2014 there\u2019s been a lot of interest in growing hemp and increasing a large number of farmers who want to participate if they can remove the obstacles. I feel confident that we\u2019ll have bipartisan support.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said that while she\u2019d like to see the standalone legislation taken up in committee, she also expects it to drive conversations and inform policy as lawmakers get to work on drafting the 2023 Farm Bill, negotiations for which are expected to begin later this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the very least, my goal is to make sure that that language is included in one form or another in the Farm Bill because that\u2019s, I think, where we have the greatest opportunity to make some significant change,\u201d Pingree said.<\/p>\n

With respect to the increased THC threshold for hemp products, the bill would also make it so the new one percent THC limit would include not just the most well-known psychoactive component, delta-9 THC, but also variants like delta-8 and delta-10 that are lesser known but are increasingly available in markets where cannabis isn\u2019t currently legal.<\/p>\n

By statutorily including the isomers in the definition of THC, the legislation could upend the market for products containing them.<\/p>\n

The proposed policy change is meant \u201cmuch more to deal with the challenges that farmers are facing during testing because hemp is an agricultural product,\u201d Pingree said.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, told Marijuana Moment in a phone interview last week that Pingree\u2019s overall bill is \u201cvery important as a way to redress some of the flaws of the 2018 Farm Bill and learn the lessons from the last four years of hemp growing and improve upon them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally, we think it\u2019s a really great kickstart for the industry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the proposed increased total THC threshold that includes cannabinoids other than delta-9, Miller said the issue \u201cis unclear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was something that none of us who were involved in the 2018 Farm Bill really knew about to any degree, and has been seized as a loophole,\u201d he said. Even DEA has signaled that, at the federal level at least, delta-8 THC is not a controlled substance at this time<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pingree first previewed the new legislation in September<\/a> at an event with the U.S. Hemp Roundtable.<\/p>\n

Last year, Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA) filed a separate bill aimed at allowing hemp and CBD derived from the crop to be marketed and sold as dietary supplements<\/a>. That\u2019s been another major source of controversy, as the current lack of regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is viewed as a central barrier for the hemp industry\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n

In the Senate, Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced a bill that would similarly exempt \u201chemp, hemp-derived cannabidiol, or a substance containing any other ingredient derived from hemp\u201d from certain restrictions that have blocked the emergence of legal consumable hemp products<\/a>\u00a0while the FDA has slow-walked regulations.<\/p>\n

Paul also filed separate legislation last year that would triple the concentration of THC that hemp could legally contain<\/a>\u00a0while addressing multiple other concerns the industry has expressed about the federal regulations.<\/p>\n

More recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last month that it will be partnering with Cornell University on a webinar series to promote education about hemp as the industry evolves<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The agency also recently said\u00a0that it has taken steps to improve insurance policies for hemp businesses<\/a>, making them more flexible in response to stakeholder feedback.<\/p>\n

USDA has taken a number of steps to align hemp insurance policies with those of other lawful crops since the plant was federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, consistently seeking out input from stakeholders as the industry matures.<\/p>\n

In 2020, for example, the department made it so hemp farmers\u00a0can qualify for Multi-Peril Crop Insurance<\/a>, in addition to\u00a0several other coverage programs for which the crop is now eligible<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As part of its overall outreach, the department\u00a0launched a large-scale survey in August<\/a>\u00a0to gain insight into the hemp market that\u2019s emerged.<\/p>\n

After\u00a0requesting permission from the White House<\/a>\u00a0last year to conduct the survey of about 20,000 hemp farmers, the agency\u2019s National Agricultural Statistics Service recently made response forms available to be filled out via mail or online.<\/p>\n

USDA is asking questions about plans for outdoor hemp production, acreage for operations, primary and secondary uses for the crop and what kinds of prices producers are able to bring in. The questionnaire lists preparations such as smokeable hemp, extracts like CBD, grain for human consumption, fiber and seeds as areas the department is interested in learning about.<\/p>\n

The department announced plans in 2020 to distribute a\u00a0separate national survey to gain insights from thousands of hemp businesses<\/a>\u00a0that could inform its approach to regulating the industry.<\/p>\n

That survey is being completed in partnership with National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the University of Kentucky. The department said it wanted to learn about \u201ccurrent production costs, production practices, and marketing practices\u201d for hemp.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s still much to learn about the burgeoning market, even as USDA\u00a0continues to approve state regulatory plans<\/a>\u00a0for the crop. Recently, the agency\u00a0approved a hemp plan submitted by Colorado<\/a>, where officials have consistently insisted that the state intends to be a leader in the space.<\/p>\n

While USDA\u2019s final rule for hemp took effect on March 22, 2021, the agency is evidently still interested in gathering information to further inform its regulatory approach going forward. Industry stakeholders say the release of the final rule is a positive step forward that will provide businesses with needed guidance, but they\u2019ve also pointed to a number of policies that they hope to revise as the market matures such as USDA\u2019s hemp testing requirements.<\/p>\n

The federal Small Business Administration\u2019s Office of Advocacy\u00a0expressed a similar sentiment in a blog post<\/a>\u00a0last February, writing that it is \u201cpleased with some of the changes that [USDA] has made to the rule, as they offer more certainty and are less burdensome to small farmers,\u201d but \u201csome concerns remained unaddressed in the final rule.\u201d<\/p>\n

USDA said last year that it is\u00a0teaming up with a chemical manufacturing company<\/a>\u00a0on a two-year project that could significantly expand the hemp-based cosmetics market.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced in August that it is\u00a0sponsoring a project to develop hemp fiber insulation<\/a>\u00a0that\u2019s designed to be better for the environment and public health than conventional preparations are.<\/p>\n

Read the text of the new hemp reform bill below:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Wisconsin Governor Vetoes GOP Bill To Increase Marijuana Extraction Penalties<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Photo courtesy of Brendan Cleak.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post Hemp Could Have More THC Under New Congressional Bill That Aims To Fix Regulatory Issues For Expanding Industry<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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A new congressional bill seeks to build upon the federal legalization of hemp by providing cannabis businesses with additional flexibility that\u2019s been sought after by industry stakeholders, as well as remove a controversial ban on market participation by people with prior drug convictions. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) filed the HempContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":52801,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52800"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52800"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52802,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52800\/revisions\/52802"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}