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Under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is treated in many ways like other agricultural products. This is an important point. While there are regulations that heavily regulate hemp, and law enforcement fears – rightly or wrongly – that cannabis plants used to extract marijuana are mixed with hemp plants, this legislation makes hemp a common plant. Several provisions of the Farm Bill include amendments to existing provisions of farm legislation to include hemp. One of the most important provisions from the perspective of hemp growers is section 11101. This section deals with the protection of hemp producers under the Canada Crop Insurance Act. This will help farmers who face crop failures (crop losses) in the normal course of agricultural production. As the climate changes and farmers get used to growing this “new” product, these protections will be important. Learn more about the regulatory status of state and tribal hemp programs by visiting the AMS Hemp Production website.

Federal policy, reinforced by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, effectively banned the production of industrial hemp during the War on Drugs. The USDA`s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) explained how states and tribes can develop plans for growers to grow hemp in these areas. Eligible producers include those who grow in accordance with USDA, state and tribal plans or for research purposes under Section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill. For more information, visit the AMS Hemp Production website. Gleam Law will continuously monitor the hemp brand landscape and work diligently to provide our hemp-related clients with world-class intellectual property assistance. Call us if you are interested in diving into the legal hemp industry. It wasn`t until the 1970s, at the height of the war on drugs, that hemp was listed as a Schedule I drug. This imposed strict regulations on production in the United States. Curiously, in 1998, the U.S. started with important hemp seeds and oils from other countries, while banning their production in the U.S. One. At the federal level, the Farm Improvement Act of 2018, Pub.

115-334 (the Farm Bill 2018) was proclaimed on December 20, 2018. Among other things, this new law amends certain federal agencies regarding the production and marketing of hemp, defined as “the Cannabis sativa L. plant and any part thereof, including its seeds and all its derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts and salts of isomers, growing or not, with a concentration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol not exceeding 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. These changes include the removal of hemp from the CSA, which means that cannabis plants and derivatives containing no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight are no longer controlled substances under federal law. Many advocates applaud Chief McConnell for his responsibility for these hemp regulations in the Farm Bill and his leadership on all legislation. This assessment is correct. Without the efforts of Mr. McConnell, the hemp regulations would never have been incorporated into law.

And while his position as Senate leader gave him enormous institutional influence over legislation, he went further by appointing himself to the Conference Committee, which would bring the House and Senate together to agree on a final version. Licensed hemp growers must report the planted area and licence number to their local ASF office. Producers may also be eligible for FSA programs; Some additional requirements may be required. Ingredients derived from parts of the cannabis plant that do not contain THC or CBD may not fall within the scope of 301(ll) and may therefore be added to foods. For example, as discussed in question #12, some hemp seed ingredients may be legally marketed into human food. However, all food ingredients must comply with all applicable laws and regulations. For example, under the Act, any substance intentionally added to a food is a food additive and is therefore subject to pre-market review and FDA approval, unless the substance is generally recognized as safe by qualified experts under the conditions of its intended use (GRAS), or the use of the substance is otherwise excluded from the definition of food additive (§§§§§ 201(s) and §§ 409 of the FD&C Act [21 U.S.C. §§ 321(s) and 348]). Other than the three hemp seed ingredients mentioned in question #12, no other cannabis or cannabis-derived ingredients have been subject to a food additive application, GRAS notification, or otherwise approved by the FDA for use in foods.

Food businesses that wish to use cannabis or cannabis-derived ingredients in their food are subject to the relevant laws and regulations that apply to all food products, including those related to food additives and GRAS processes. The 2018 Farm Bill explicitly protected FDA authorities on hemp products. Therefore, hemp products must meet all applicable FDA requirements and standards, just like any other FDA-regulated product. For example, existing FDA agencies apply to foods, dietary supplements, human and veterinary drugs, and cosmetics for hemp products to the extent that these hemp products fall into these categories.