HEMP is now a legitimate American crop, and the Farm Bill has been instrumental in ensuring that hemp as an agricultural product remains stable. However, it's important to note that the Farm Bill does not legalize cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis. The FDA has been monitoring the market and taking necessary measures to protect public health against companies that illegally sell cannabis and cannabis-derived products. This article will explain the ways in which certain parts of the FD&C Act may affect the legality of CBD products, and how the Farm Bill legalizes hemp. In the past 22 years, 33 states have legalized cannabis for medical purposes, and in the past six years, 10 states have legalized cannabis for adult use.
However, federal law did not differentiate hemp from other cannabis plants until recently. The Farm Act ensures that any cannabinoid, a set of chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant and that are derived from hemp, is legal, as long as that hemp is produced in a manner consistent with the Farm Act, the associated federal regulations, the state regulations of the association and by an authorized producer. The Farm Bill removes hemp-derived products from their List I category under the Controlled Substances Act, but it doesn't legalize CBD in general. Any cannabis plant containing more than 0.3 percent THC would be considered marijuana or non-hemp marijuana under federal law and would therefore have no legal protection under this new legislation. The Farm Bill does not create a system where people can grow hemp as freely as they can grow tomatoes or basil. It's important to understand how the Farm Bill affects hemp and CBD products.
This knowledge can help ensure that hemp remains a stable agricultural product and that consumers are protected from companies illegally selling cannabis and cannabis-derived products.
