Hemp farming may be on the verge of making a comeback in the United States. Hemp, a variety of cannabis that contains little to no THC, used to be a cornerstone of American agriculture and industry. But, in the mid-twentieth century, its cultivation came to a halt because of cannabis’ classification as a schedule I controlled substance.
Now, Senator Mitch McConnell has introduced legislation to fully legalize hemp production. “By legalizing hemp and empowering states to conduct their own oversight plans, we can give the hemp industry the tools necessary to create jobs and new opportunities for farmers and manufacturers around the country,” he stated regarding his bill.
If you believe you have been wrongly charged with a marijuana crime, you should not hesitate to contact a California marijuana business lawyer. At McElfresh Law, we can fight for your legal rights and help you receive your best outcome.
To arrange a consultation, contact our team today at (858) 756-7107.
Understanding the Hemp Farming Act of 2018
Co-sponsored by Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 was introduced to the Senate in March, along with a similar house bill that followed in April. Both measures aim to:
- Distinguish hemp from psychoactive cannabis
- Establish hemp as an agricultural commodity
- Allow states the freedom to permit hemp cultivation
- Make crop insurance available to hemp farmers
- Encourage research into new uses of hemp
- Open the banking system to hemp farms and businesses
The bill defines hemp as “Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.”
This means that high CBD cannabis and products produced in California may qualify as hemp under the new law, so long as THC levels are kept in check.
Jonathan Miller, legal counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, stated, “It could not be more clear that hemp, the plant, hemp extracts, hemp derivatives, hemp-derived CBD … they’ll all be made legal.” If it passes, the bill will help California cannabis businesses specializing in high CBD cannabis, which until now have been unable to access crop insurance or to use banks.
More People Are Embracing Cannabis Than Ever Before
John Boehner, who once admitted he was against the legalization of cannabis, announced earlier this year that he will join the advisory board of Acreage Holdings, a company which is involved in the cultivation, processing, and retail of cannabis in 11 states. Moreover, an October 2017 Gallup survey showed that over 60 percent of all Americans now favor cannabis legalization.
Boehner’s attitudes towards cannabis changed dramatically because a close friend of his was able to address debilitating back pain through the use of marijuana. He even stated, “When you look at the number of people in our state and federal penitentiaries, who are there for possession of small amounts of cannabis, you begin to really scratch your head.”
Contact a California Marijuana Business Lawyer
At McElfresh Law, we closely follow and analyze new cannabis legislation. If you are in need of a California marijuana business lawyer, contact us today at (858) 756-7107 to set up a consultation.