The US Government shutdown has ended, and the rein of intoxicating hemp products may follow next year as a result.
The bill to reopen the government included language that will ban the unregulated sale of intoxicating hemp-based products; such as those containing delta-8 and delta-10 THC, THC-O, THCP, and HHC. While hemp is naturally very low in these cannabinoids, they can be created through manipulating cannabidiol (CBD) derived from legal hemp; and products have proliferated throughout the country.
Among these products are items that are presented and packaged to look like snack foods, and attractive to children. And they’ve been available through a wide variety of outlets such as gas stations and convenience stores.
Many states have been trying to cram the genie back into the bottle, and now government at a federal level will do so too.
The passing of the bill gravely threatens the huge industry that has sprung up around intoxicating hemp. But, it’s a year before the language will go into effect and given what’s at stake, it won’t go down without a fight. The industry is now scrambling to have the decision reversed with the aim of better regulation rather than a ban.
According to US hemp industry advocacy group Hemp Roundtable, the ban will impact more than 95% of all hemp extract products.
“While it does allow sale of products less than 0.4 mg of total THC per container, those niche items are very rare,” the group says.
It maintains prohibition without regulation will see these products continue to be available via black markets.
“As a significant American industry, we are committed to sharing with Congress the real story about hemp,” said Art Massolo, U.S. Hemp Roundtable President. ” Because the truth is that good actors in the industry have created a self-regulation authority to protect consumers. But we need Congress’ help to keep the bad actors out. Hemp is here to stay – let’s do it right.”
Senator Rand Paul attempted to have the language removed from the bill with an amendment that failed. But he hasn’t given up the fight either. In an op-ed in Courier Journal, he wrote:
“In true Washington swamp fashion, this hemp ban is not being debated on its own, on the merits. Instead, it is attached to a must-pass bill. Once again, Congress created a crisis, then conveniently used the crisis to jam through new laws without debate … I was able to force a vote in the Senate to remove the hemp ban, and while this effort was not successful on the first attempt, it will not be the last word.”
The looming ban on intoxicating hemp products does not impact crops grown for non-cannabinoid applications such as food made from seed and fiber.
