President Trump releases Industrial Hemp from DEA schedule 1 Listing

President Trump's official signing of the 2018 Farm Bill into law. The bill, which redefines hemp as an agricultural commodity, explicitly removes hemp from the purview of the Controlled Substances Act and the jurisdiction of the Drug Enforcement Administration, thereby paving the way for a massive expansion of economic opportunities across all sectors of the hemp industry.

While this bill allows state and tribal governments to impose their own restrictions and requirements, members of the hemp industry can now work with federally regulated institutions such as banks, merchant services, credit card companies, and advertising platforms. Further, hemp farmers can finally access needed crop insurance and can fully participate in USDA programs for certification and competitive grants. In addition, interstate transport of hemp and hemp products will be legal in all 50 states. The bill specifically defines hemp, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of not more than 0.3%, including the plant's viable seeds, extracts, and derivatives.

"Despite being able to legally participate in a 2014 Farm Bill-compliant hemp pilot program, every participating farmer took some sort of financial or otherwise substantial risk," said Colleen Keahey Lanier Executive Director of the Hemp Industries Association. "The hemp provision in the 2018 Farm Bill eliminates those risks in favor of full recognition as an agricultural commodity. We are grateful for the collaborative organization support for the updated provisions made by the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, American Herbal Products Association, National Hemp Association, Vote Hemp, Drug Policy Alliance, and NORML."

While CBD has been the most high-profile hemp product in recent years, hemp has been cultivated for the purpose of food and body care products, paper, textiles, and building materials for hundreds of years. Hemp seeds provide the highest content of digestible protein in both the plant and animal kingdoms and a recent study from Spain's University of Seville found that hemp seed may have "favorable nutritional implications and beneficial physiological effects on the prevention of coronary heart disease and cancer." That said, the FDA will continue to exercise jurisdiction over the regulation of ingestible and topical hemp products.

"After decades of commitment and hard work by revolutionary pioneers and advocates, legalization of the extraordinarily versatile hemp crop as an agricultural commodity is finally upon us. From dense nutrition, body care, and wellness, to paper, textiles, building materials, bioplastics, biofuel, and nanotechnology, hemp has arrived to reinvigorate American farms. We are now experiencing the historic ushering in of true agricultural and industrial revolutions in the United States, and the HIA is poised and ready for both!" said Joy Beckerman, HIA Board President.

The United States is currently the largest importer of hemp goods in the world. The hemp market generated over $820 million in sales in the U.S. in 2017, up from $680 million in 2016, and is expected to swell to $1.9 billion by 2022. Just under 10,000 acres of hemp were cultivated in the U.S. under agricultural pilot and other programs in 2016, and that number more than doubled to just under 26,000 acres in 2017. Using available data for 2018, the Hemp Industries Association estimates there are upwards of 1,200 licensed U.S. hemp farmers operating on over 40,000 acres, along with hundreds of processors across the nation. The new Farm Bill opens the floodgates to domestic production, economic stimulus, job creation, and opportunities for international trade.

Industrial Hemp Candidate Steven Wilson in Missouri Candidate Forum

Candidate Forum: Libertarian Steven Wilson Privatization, Mixed Member Proportional voting method, Taxation is theft, common sense solutions.

Libertarian State Senate Candidate and Cannabis reformer Steven Wilson will attend fourm in State Capitol

JEFFERSON CITY-Missouri state senate candidate for district 6 Steven Wilson has confirmed that he will attend a candidate forum sponsored by the News Tribune on October 2 at the Jefferson City Hall in the Council Chambers. The event will begin at 6pm and end at 8pm. The event will include candidates from both state senate district 6 and house district 60.

Wilson is running as a Libertarian,and is running a campaign that focuses on "Made in Missouri" in regards to Industrial Hemp farming as well as full cannabis reform. He promotes individual soveriengty, and has stated in multiple interviews that, "taxation is theft".

Wilson is opposed by Democrat Nicole Thompson and Republican Mike Bernskoetter.

For questions, please contact Rebecca Martin: rebecca@newstribune.com. The event will be live streamed at: http://www.newstribune.com/

To contact Steven Wilson use the following links: https://www.facebook.com/events/2171334403078643/

https://www.stevenwilsonlibertarian.com/

https://stevenwilson4senate.wixsite.com/missouridistrict6

573-416-0075

California Hemp Regulation 2018

On July 6th, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) published a document titled "FAQ - Industrial Hemp and Cannabidiol (CBD) Food Products." Please take a moment to review the document in full. In this document, the Department indicates that in California "any CBD products including CBD oil derived from hemp will not be allowed in food," including pet food and states that "CBD derived from hemp and cannabis is a federally-regulated controlled substance."

We know that the CDPH's statements stand to impact many of our member stakeholders who are conducting business in the state, and we are working with allied advocacy organizations to strategize an effective response.
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Clip From the CDPH's published FAQ Document:

California incorporates federal law regarding food additives, dietary use products, food labeling, and good manufacturing practices for food. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified all forms of cannabis as a Schedule I drug, making it illegal to grow it in the United States.3 Currently, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that it is a prohibited act to introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce any food (including any animal food or feed) to which tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or CBD has been added. This is regardless of the source of the CBD - derived from industrial hemp or cannabis.

Therefore, although California currently allows the manufacturing and sales of cannabis products (including edibles), the use of industrial hemp as the source of CBD to be added to food products is prohibited. Until the FDA rules that industrial hemp-derived CBD oil and CBD products can be used as a food or California makes a determination that they are safe to use for human and animal consumption, CBD products are not an approved food, food ingredient, food additive, or dietary supplement.

Frequently Asked Questions
 

1. What forms of Industrial hemp derived products will and will NOT be allowed in food in California?
 

Will be allowed in food (without any claim for health benefits): 

• Seeds derived from Industrial hemp 
• Industrial hemp seed oil or hemp seed oil derived from industrial hemp 

Will NOT be allowed in food: 

• Any CBD products derived from cannabis 
• Any CBD products including CBD oil derived from industrial hemp 
• Hemp oil that is not derived from industrial hemp seeds 
• Industrial hemp seed oil enhanced with CBD or other cannabinoids 

Read all of the "CDPH FAQ - Industrial Hemp and Cannabidiol (CBD) in Food Products" document here.