Analyzing State & Federal Regulations on Hemp

Hemp enthusiasts should be well aware of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids such as CBD, Delta-9, Delta-8, and others on a federal level. 

But four years before that, the federal government allowed states to operate pilot programs to regulate hemp production. This bill allowed for hemp research to occur (including market research); however, there were still many limitations. 

The 2018 Farm Bill not only legalized hemp-derived cannabinoids on a federal level but also opened the gates for a broader range of hemp research. 

"Hemp" and "marijuana" are legal terms used to describe cannabis. Their only difference is that hemp has a 0.3% or lower concentration of Delta-9 THC by dry weight, and marijuana contains a higher concentration of Delta-9 THC. 

Essentially, both legal variations of cannabis share all the same cannabinoids, from CBD, CBN, Delta-8, Delta-9, HHC, and more. However, with the gates opened on hemp research, these more novel and unknown plant compounds have become more widely available to consumers. 

It's a common misconception that the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp in all 50 states. The reality is that this bill legalized hemp on a federal level. It was then left up to individual states to determine how they'd regulate hemp agriculture and hemp-derived cannabinoids. 

Although this was a significant step in the right direction for legal cannabis in the United States, from a business standpoint, it did create some complications. Hemp is a commodity that can be traded on an interstate basis. Still, it can be difficult for businesses to comply with every specific state requirement, which can include standards for packaging. Hopefully, there may be more unified standards across states in the future. 

If you're curious to learn more about the current state of the hemp industry from different angles (from scientists, former law enforcement officials, and lawyers), you can check out our previous blogs and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.