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CONFUSION REIGNS IN STATE, FEDERAL HEMP GROWING REGULATIONS
Jan. 16, 2020
POLITICO reports:
USDA's framework for nationwide hemp production failed to address some of the burgeoning industry's biggest concerns, and it imposes strict testing requirements that could be onerous for farmers. That's causing some discomfort for state officials as they develop their individual regulatory plans within USDA's guidelines, writes Pro Cannabis' Mona Zhang.
A change.org petition against the federal rules has garnered more than 20,000 signatures, and it's littered with comments from growers warning that the requirements spell doom for their farms. Some states are pushing back, going well beyond the federal guidelines or submitting proposals that deviate from USDA rules.
"It's important for my farmers in Montana that we fight on these issues," said Ben Thomas, Montana's agriculture director. USDA last month approved hemp plans for six states and tribes, including Louisiana, New Jersey and Ohio. But other states like North Dakota have reportedly been rejected.
The big picture: Producers have been piling into the industry since Congress passed the 2018 farm bill, which legalized industrial hemp nationwide. This year marks the first growing season with federal rules finally in place, quelling some of the regulatory limbo. But dissatisfaction with USDA's regulations could put a damper on the sector.
Another headache? The FDA, for its part, has yet to figure out how to regulate the booming market for cannabidiol, which is derived from hemp. House Ag Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) filed bipartisan legislation this week that would direct the government to regulate CBD products like dietary supplements, reports Pro Cannabis' Paul Demko.
"The last two farm bills were landmark successes for hemp, but we are still very early in this process, and growers need regulatory certainty," Peterson said in a statement. The legislation is likely to divide the budding industry, with some groups warning that it will create weak safety standards for wildly popular products.
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