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Hey everyone, great News! As of December 20, 2018, hemp is legal in the United States once again! This wonderful update comes after the 2018 Farm Bill passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, which included a groundbreaking amendment that fully legalizes industrial hemp at the federal level. This means that hemp and its derivatives are no longer under the control of the Drug Enforcement Administration, opening up tremendous opportunities for the hemp industry, American agriculture, and the health and science sectors, among others. There was also a partial compromise on the part of the law that restricted individuals with felony convictions from being involved in the industry. President Trump is expected to sign the omnibus bill into law before the year is over, marking a significant milestone for the hemp industry. We’ll have more updates on this exciting news soon!
This crucial amendment to the Senate version of the 2018 Farm Bill spells out a whole new era of possibilities for hemp in the United States. “This is a big day for hemp,” said Brian Furnish, a hemp grower from Kentucky and president of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. The amendment to the bill, dubbed the “Hemp Farming Act of 2018”, fully legalizes industrial hemp and all products made from it, including CBD Oil. Under this new law, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other government agencies will no longer have power to intervene with the hemp industry, marking a transformative step forward for the entire hemp community.
Despite this positive development, there are still challenges ahead due to political uncertainty over other aspects of the massive Farm Bill. The absence of hemp-related language in the House version of the bill means that there are still hurdles to overcome before hemp legalization is fully realized.
The amendment to the 2018 Farm Bill builds on the partial legalization of hemp that was introduced in the 2014 version of the bill. Back then, industrial hemp was permitted to be grown through state-run hemp research programs. However, these state-based programs were disparate in their restrictions, with some only allowing university research and others granting a limited number of everyday farmers the opportunity to grow hemp. Despite this partial legalization, CBD vendors have faced legal threats at both the state and federal level. Additionally, other government agencies, such as the Bureau of Reclamation, have at times intervened with hemp growers. With the new amendment in the 2018 Farm Bill, it is expected that these challenges will be significantly reduced, opening up more opportunities for the hemp industry.
The hemp legalization amendment would officially remove hemp from the DEA’s list of controlled substances, putting an end to any debate over the legal status of the plant. Under this new law, all products made from hemp, including CBD oil, would be explicitly legalized as long as they contain less than 0.3% of THC, the psychoactive substance found in cannabis. Additionally, state agriculture departments and Native American tribes would now be free to regulate hemp in the same manner as any other crop.
While the Senate passed the 2018 Farm Bill with the hemp amendment, the fact that the House version of the bill does not include the same amendment has left the future of hemp legalization uncertain. Before the bill can reach the president’s desk, the House and Senate must have a “Conference Committee” to resolve differences between the versions of the 2018 Farm Bill. This poses the risk of hemp legalization being put in jeopardy over conflicts relating to other provisions of the bill. Despite bipartisan support for the hemp amendment, there are still dissenting voices within the hemp industry.
One thing is for certain, however, and that hemp legalization is closer than ever to reality. The 2018 Farm Bill is an omnibus piece of legislation that ensures continued funding for various agricultural and social programs, with President Donald Trump expected to sign it when it finally reaches his desk. Advocates of the hemp amendment, including Brian Furnish, encourage supporters to voice their favor and contact their representatives to support the hemp language.
This update marks a monumental moment for the hemp industry, with the full legalization of industrial hemp opening up a world of possibilities for countless individuals and businesses across the United States. Let’s all work together to support the progress and development of the hemp industry as it enters into this exciting new era of legalized hemp.
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