In a plot twist that could rival any Hollywood blockbuster, the 2024 Farm Bill is facing a proposed amendment that threatens to turn the hemp industry on its head. The villain of the piece? Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., who has put forward a definition of hemp that could make the intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid market as illegal as a pineapple on a pizza.
This amendment would not only slam the door on the billion-dollar cannabinoid market, but also tie the hands of seed companies, breeders, and cannabis flower producers. They would be unable to sell seeds and cannabis flower across state lines, thanks to a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill that’s about to be sewn up tighter than a pair of skinny jeans after Thanksgiving.
Miller’s proposed definition of hemp is as narrow as a politician’s promise. It includes only components of the Cannabis sativa L. plant and all derivatives and seeds that have less than 0.3% total THC on a dry-weight basis. This means products containing intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids (like delta-8 THC) would be as illegal as jaywalking in front of a police station.
The U.S. Hemp Roundtable, along with dozens of other hemp-related nonprofits, have voiced their opposition to Miller’s amendment, labeling it a cynical move that could potentially wipe out 90-95% of all hemp products on the market. Jonathan Miller, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable General Counsel, went as far as to say that this amendment “throws the baby out with the bathwater,” and could cripple a vibrant industry, causing job losses and denying Americans access to popular health and wellness products.
Members of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association are just as concerned about the proposed amendment. They believe it poses a significant threat to the U.S. hemp industry and their communities’ interests in promoting wellness, industry, and economies. They have urged Congress to reject the Mary Miller amendment, describing it as a cynical effort influenced by monopoly-seeking marijuana companies.
The 2018 Farm Bill, which was set to expire on Sept. 30, 2023, was given a lifeline by President Biden on Nov. 16, 2023, under H.R. 6363. This allowed authorized programs to continue through Sept. 30, 2024. The 2018 Farm Bill became law on Dec. 20, 2018, aiming to support U.S. farmers, ranchers, and forest stewards.
Despite 21 attorneys general urging Congress to address “intoxicating hemp” products in this year’s reauthorization of the Farm Bill, no language addressing intoxicating hemp products was included in the House nor Senate summaries of their proposed bills. It seems the issue of intoxicating hemp products was conveniently swept under the rug.
The 2024 Farm Bill, which is bigger than a Tolstoy novel at 954 pages, includes defining industrial hemp under Section 297A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. It also proposes a process to reduce testing and sampling requirements for industrial hemp producers and establishes a penalty for a producer knowingly procuring “a crop that is inconsistent with the designation of only industrial hemp.”
Miller’s amendment is one of 59 filed on May 22 and May 23. It’s clear that the 2024 Farm Bill is stirring up as much drama as a soap opera, with the fate of the hemp industry hanging in the balance.
Leave a Reply