A Republican-backed budget bill that includes a ban on hemp-derived THC and THCA flower advanced out of a House subcommittee on Thursday by a 9-7 party-line vote.
But the effort by U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, a Maryland Republican, to close a “loophole” created by the 2018 Farm Bill achieved a rare feat: It united advocates for the marijuana, hemp and liquor industries who believe the legislation is the wrong approach.
As MJBizDaily reported Wednesday, Harris’ proposal would redefine “hemp” under federal law to:
- Account for tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THCA, to ban so-called THCA flower.
- Remove novel cannabinoids “synthesized or manufactured outside the plant” such as THCP and delta-10 THC from the definition of hemp.
The 2018 Farm Bill, signed into law by President Donald Trump during his first term, has led to such products being sold across the country and online “under the false guise of being quote, USDA approved,” Harris said during opening remarks in committee, referencing the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
He also said that, “as many states have stepped in to curb these dangerous products from reaching consumers, particularly children, it’s time for Congress to act to close this loophole while protecting the legitimate industrial hemp industry.”
The bill advanced out of the Republican-controlled subcommittee with Democrats opposed.
Read the full story at MJBizDaily
