August 20, 2024

Top 4 WORST Lies Told About Hemp

Have you ever heard someone say something bogus and wondered, "What are they smoking?" In the hemp industry, we ask ourselves that question all the time.

From common misconceptions to special-interest smear campaigns, there's a lot of misinformation out there about hemp. But in this blog post, we will set the record straight.

So stick around as we break down the worst lies told about the hemp industry.

Lie #4: "Hemp-derived cannabinoids are unregulated."

We hear it all the time about how, supposedly, there's little to no oversight going on in the hemp industry, that it's like the "Wild West."

But is it? In 2018, the federal government first legalized hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids through the Farm Bill.

After that, states took it upon themselves to draft their own legislation on handling the plant, from production to sale. Now, we can't go through all of the hemp laws for all 50 states, but here, in our home state of Texas, hemp-derived cannabinoids have been regulated since day one.

Don't believe us? Check out H.B. 1325, the Texas bill that legalized hemp products:

SUBCHAPTER D. TESTING OF CONSUMABLE HEMP PRODUCTS

Sec. 443.151. TESTING REQUIRED. (a) A consumable hemp

product must be tested as provided by:

(1) Subsections (b) and (c); or

(2) Subsection (d).

(b) Before a hemp plant is processed or otherwise used in

the manufacture of a consumable hemp product, a sample representing

the plant must be tested, as required by the executive

commissioner, to determine:

(1) the concentration of various cannabinoids; and

(2) the presence or quantity of heavy metals,

pesticides, and any other substance prescribed by the department.

sold as, offered for sale as, or incorporated into a consumable hemp

product, the material must be tested, as required by the executive

commissioner, to determine:

(1) the presence of harmful microorganisms; and

(2) the presence or quantity of:

(A) any residual solvents used in processing, if

applicable; and

(B) any other substance prescribed by the

department.

Right there, in the law that legalized hemp in our state, it says that consumable hemp products (such as the ones we make here) are required to undergo testing for stuff like pesticides, heavy metals, microorganisms, and residual solvents.

Plus, not everyone in our state can make or sell hemp products on a whim. On the Texas Department of State Health Services website (yeah, that DSHS), you can find resources on becoming a licensed and registered retailer or manufacturer of consumable hemp products.

So, what part of the legal requirements for hemp products to be tested for contaminants and legal requirements for a license and registration to sell or make such products scream "unregulated?"

Lie #3: "Novel cannabinoids were made to exploit 'loopholes.'"

Cannabinoids are, by definition, naturally occurring compounds found within the cannabis species. There are over 100 cannabinoids in any given cannabis plant, but the two most prevalent (abundant) are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

So, what is a novel cannabinoid? "Novel cannabinoid" is just another term for "minor cannabinoid." In short, it's anything besides those two prominent cannabinoids mentioned before.

You might hear it by word of mouth or online that once hemp became legalized, processors, scientists, and others jumping into the industry rushed to "invent" compounds such as Delta-8, HHC, and others as a way to sell psychoactive compounds.

Now, here's why that's wrong. First of all, compounds like Delta-8 and HHC are as old as the cannabis plant itself. Yes, they've been there all along. They were just not available at the levels they are today due to the widespread legalization of hemp.

But what about converting CBD to other compounds like Delta-8 and HHC? Is that something that just sprung out of nowhere with the legalization of hemp?

Nope. The first instance of converting CBD to Delta-8 THC goes back to the first time organic chemist Roger Adams first identified the cannabinoid in...1941.

And the same applies to HHC. So yeah, novel cannabinoids weren't just "invented" in some laboratory. They occur within cannabis plants in small amounts. Plus, scientists knew how to convert CBD to Delta-8 and other novel cannabinoids 83 years ago.

Lie #2: "Delta-9 is not real THC."

You've probably heard this one from the so-called "true cannabis connoisseurs." They won't give their time of day to hemp-derived Delta-9 products because it's not the "real" stuff that's grown in places like Colorado or California.

To them, it's marijuana-derived or it's "fake." Well, here's the deal...

Before we discuss THC, let's talk about water. You know, H2O. Whether ice in the Himalayan mountains, a reservoir discovered on Mars (pretty cool), or water pouring out of your tap, each water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom in its chemical formula. H2O = Water, and vice versa.

The same applies to THC. A person who says that they only consume "THC" and not "Delta-9" doesn't realize that the two are interchangeable. Whether the cannabinoid is hemp-derived or marijuana-derived, the full name of the compound is going to be delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

No matter the source (whether marijuana or hemp), THC's chemical formula is C22H30O4 and will have the same structure (Delta-8, CBD, and Delta-9 all have the same formula but different structures). And yes, it will have the same effects on a milligram-to-milligram basis.

The only difference is how the federal government and many state governments view their plant sources. Hemp plants are just cannabis plants with a 0.3% or lower concentration of Delta-9 (or just "THC") on a dry weight basis. Marijuana is any cannabis plant with a higher concentration than this. That's it.

Hemp-derived Delta-9 edibles are federally legal because the cannabinoid was derived from a hemp plant, and the Delta-9 never exceeds 0.3% of the edible's dry weight (hence why hemp gummies are bigger). So why do we call it "Delta-9" instead of just "THC?"

That's because hemp products offer a greater variety of THC variants than marijuana products. Therefore, we have to distinguish the type of THC for consumers to help them find the right product for their needs.

Lie #1: "The hemp industry markets their products to minors."

Hemp is a huge industry. How huge? In 2022, hemp businesses generated around $8 billion in revenue in Texas alone, of which around $3.3 billion came from hemp-derived retail sales.

In other words, there are a lot of hemp businesses out there. At Hometown Hero, we have always maintained that products such as Delta-8, Delta-9, HHC, and others are intended for responsible enjoyment by those 21 or older. We even label all our products as intended for adults 21+, using child-resistant packaging.

Plus, we go out of our way to ensure that our packages are distinct enough so people do not mistake them for non-psychoactive products such as name-brand chips or cookies.

And we're not the only ones who hold this stance.

But in any industry (including marijuana), there are going to be fly-by-night bad actors. Some shady, unreputable hemp companies may not be as careful and compliant as we are. It's just like there are bars or liquor stores that look the other way instead of checking I.D.'s for younger-looking patrons. Yet, no one is claiming that the entire alcohol industry is out to sell their products to minors or adults under the age of 21.

That would be plain absurd, and the same applies to hemp.

BONUS: Debunking Lies: Texas Monthly Hit Piece

From insane hit pieces to state-sanctioned monopolies, a lot is going out there in the world of cannabis.

If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest developments within the industry and in Texas, subscribe to our YouTube Channel and watch as Hometown Hero CEO Lukas Gilkey and Chief Strategy Officer Cynthia Cabrera keep you in the loop with all the latest developments.

The Truth About Hemp

Unfortunately, misinformation and cannabis are about as American as baseball and apple pie.

But as the country sees its "Reefer Madness" days in its rear-view mirror, a whole new battle has been brewing with the special interests of Big Marijuana going after smaller hemp businesses and the jobs they support.

And if you want to join the fight for hemp, we're offering a T-shirt with proceeds going toward our upcoming legal battle to keep hemp-derived cannabinoids legal in Texas. Until next time, happy exploring, and Mind Your Mind.