The nationwide hemp rules are taking effect March 22 as planned, with no additional delay or review because of the changed administration at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA gave notice Monday that the rules have been reviewed and are cleared to take effect as planned. The USDA was giving the hemp plan a… Continue reading New USDA confirms looming nationwide hemp rules
Category: Regulatory
Indiana House signs off on smokable hemp
The Indiana state House has overwhelmingly voted to reverse a smokable hemp ban being challenged in federal court. A bill approved 69-28 last week would remove references to “smokable hemp” from the state’s 2019 law setting up hemp regulations. Those regulations banned the production and sale of hemp flower products. The bill also repeals a… Continue reading Indiana House signs off on smokable hemp
Judge: CBD company did not mislead investors
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York Crediting the CBD company’s forthrightness, a federal judge in New York federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Massachusetts-based Curaleaf from investors who argued the company misled them about legality of its CBD products. The investors sued when Curaleaf’s share price fell in 2019 after… Continue reading Judge: CBD company did not mislead investors
Texas smoke shop owner accused of selling MJ says products were legal hemp
A coastal Texas smoke-shop owner facing criminal marijuana charges after a police raid Tuesday says the cannabis flower, vapes, gummies and other products taken were legal hemp, not illegal marijuana. Faded Smoke Shop owner Alexandra Degollado faces charges of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, the Victoria Advocate reported. One of her store employees… Continue reading Texas smoke shop owner accused of selling MJ says products were legal hemp
USDA creating hemp germplasm collection, funding lab to study plant breeding
Dionne Toombs Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture say they’re studying ways to boost hemp production and profitability for growers, and are collecting the first national statistics on domestic hemp production to be ready by next year. But Dionne Toombs, director for USDA’s Office of the Chief Scientist, gave no indication this week at… Continue reading USDA creating hemp germplasm collection, funding lab to study plant breeding
Broad-spectrum extract tea maker accused of false THC claim
A Michigan company making broad-spectrum hemp teas is battling claims that its products falsely promised 0.0% THC content. Total Life Changes LLC of Fair Haven, Michigan, has been sued by a New Jersey man who says the company’s instant Iaso Tea is “intentionally misleading the general public” by carrying a label that says it “contains… Continue reading Broad-spectrum extract tea maker accused of false THC claim
CBD brand hires former FDA executive to oversee regulatory initiatives
North Carolina CBD maker cbdMD has hired Sibyl Swift, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration official as a consultant to lead the company’s regulatory efforts and prepare products for certifications. Swift served in various roles at the FDA from 2014 to 2020, most notably as the associate director for research and strategy in the… Continue reading CBD brand hires former FDA executive to oversee regulatory initiatives
Bipartisan legislation directs Congress to regulate hemp-CBD as a dietary supplement
A bipartisan bill that was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday could push legal CBD through Congress, providing consumer access and protection while clearing the supply chain bottleneck. The Hemp and Hemp-Derived CBD Consumer Protection and Market Stabilization Act of 2021 is sponsored by Representatives Kurt Schrader, a Democrat from Oregon, and Morgan… Continue reading Bipartisan legislation directs Congress to regulate hemp-CBD as a dietary supplement
Time to invest in cannabis in Mexico is now, attorneys say
Mexico is moving ahead on medical marijuana regulation — and all hemp and marijuana companies that envision doing business there in the future should start preparing now, lawyers say. The Mexican government has begun setting a regulatory structure for medical cannabis in the country, making it possible for companies to start applying for research licenses… Continue reading Time to invest in cannabis in Mexico is now, attorneys say
New Mexico judge repeals hemp regulations that revoked licenses without notice
A New Mexico district court has invalidated the state’s hemp production rules that allowed regulators to revoke or suspend licenses without notice and imposed strict testing requirements. Santa Fe District Court Judge Bryan Biedscheid said the New Mexico Department of Health’s rules were invalid because the agency failed to consult with the Medical Cannabis Advisory… Continue reading New Mexico judge repeals hemp regulations that revoked licenses without notice
New USDA hemp rules: Find out what you need to know to succeed
The U.S. Department of Agriculture kicked off 2021 with the release of federal regulations that will govern hemp production going forward. Find out the key elements of the new rules with a free webinar with leading industry professionals who will provide an overview of what hemp operators need to succeed. There is still time to… Continue reading New USDA hemp rules: Find out what you need to know to succeed
EU market regulator updates cosmetics guidelines to add CBD as legal ingredient
A key market regulator for trade in the European Union has updated its guidelines to add plant-derived CBD as a legal ingredient in cosmetics. The change comes after the European Industrial Hemp Association pointed out that the European Court of Justice recently ruled that CBD should not be classified as a drug and can be… Continue reading EU market regulator updates cosmetics guidelines to add CBD as legal ingredient
FTC officials weigh in on CBD crackdown on false ads, urge caution
Federal regulators that go after companies for false advertising recently weighed on sanctions against CBD companies, with one urging the agency to focus on opioid manufacturers and another warning against a chilling effect on legitimate cannabis research. Rohit Chopra and Christine S. Wilson, two of five members on the Federal Trade Commission, recently published statements… Continue reading FTC officials weigh in on CBD crackdown on false ads, urge caution
DEA asks judge to toss lawsuit from hemp operators challenging extraction rule
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit from the Hemp Industries Association over an extraction rule that meany fear will wrongly criminalize temporary byproducts of the plant during production. The DEA says in a filing Tuesday that HIA is challenging “a hypothetical regulation or policy concerning manufacturing byproduct”… Continue reading DEA asks judge to toss lawsuit from hemp operators challenging extraction rule
Want to promote hemp’s health benefits? Here’s how to do it without getting in trouble
Hemp businesses walk a fine line when describing the health benefits of their products: Make a claim without evidence or wording that misleads consumers, and soon the legal fees will pile up. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has guidelines for acceptable claims to make on labels for dietary supplements – the closest fit for… Continue reading Want to promote hemp’s health benefits? Here’s how to do it without getting in trouble
FDA withdraws pending CBD enforcement proposal
U.S. drug regulators have withdrawn their proposal to regulate over-the-counter CBD, handing the industry another setback after years of delay from the Food and Drug Administration. The proposal in question appears to be on pause because of the changing administration. The delay was widely anticipated but still frustrating for CBD operators awaiting the rules. The… Continue reading FDA withdraws pending CBD enforcement proposal
Brexit creates CBD regulatory mess for UK market
If the CBD market is any indication of how other sectors will be affected by the United Kingdom’s divorce from the European Union, buckle your seatbelts. Supply-chain slowdowns and lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic have already made doing business in the UK a challenge. Now, with the confusion surrounding the final Brexit trade deal,… Continue reading Brexit creates CBD regulatory mess for UK market
Restrictions on shipment of vaping products could impact hemp industry
Companies selling vaping products online, including those with CBD cartridges, will be forced to find an alternative to the U.S. Postal Service to ship their products and will face additional regulations come this summer. That’s because in late December, when Congress approved another appropriations bill to keep the government running, lawmakers also passed the “Preventing… Continue reading Restrictions on shipment of vaping products could impact hemp industry
Circle K wants to block hemp trademark that resembles its own
Circle K Stores Inc. wants to block a California hemp and marijuana holding company from using a design mark with “K” inside a circle. In a filing first reported by Law 360, the convenience-store chain is asking the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to oppose a registration application from Medical Marijuana Inc. of Poway,… Continue reading Circle K wants to block hemp trademark that resembles its own
NIHC chairman appointed to board advising U.S. on trade policy
The chairman of the National Industrial Hemp Council, Patrick Atagi, will serve on the U.S.’s Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Tobacco, Cotton and Peanuts. Members of the committee provide guidance and recommendations on trade policies to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. “It’s an honor to… Continue reading NIHC chairman appointed to board advising U.S. on trade policy
2021: The year of positive CBD policy changes
Jonathan Havens (Editor’s note: This story is part of a recurring series of commentaries from professionals connected to the hemp industry. Havens co-chairs the Cannabis Law and Food, Beverage and Agribusiness Practices at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr law firm in Washington DC.) The hemp industry has been waiting with bated breath for the release… Continue reading 2021: The year of positive CBD policy changes
FDA says it seeks ‘real world data’ to fill in CBD research gaps in ‘end of administration’ update
Federal food and drug officials said Friday that they plan to fill in current CBD research gaps with “real world data” — but industry advocates are frustrated that regulators haven’t done enough to clear up the rules, which has caused supply-chain bottlenecks while leaving consumers to navigate an increasing field of unregulated products. An update… Continue reading FDA says it seeks ‘real world data’ to fill in CBD research gaps in ‘end of administration’ update
California bill to legalize hemp extracts in food, drinks, includes ban on smokable flower
California lawmakers will be faced again with the long-debated question of whether to allow hemp extracts in food and beverages in the state when the legislative session opens Monday, but this time the proposal comes with a twist: The measure would also ban smokable hemp flower – an increasingly popular and unregulated segment of the industry.… Continue reading California bill to legalize hemp extracts in food, drinks, includes ban on smokable flower
Vermont to conduct ‘contactless’ inspections of hemp operators during COVID
Vermont will be conducting contactless inspections of hemp operators to limit person-to-person contact during the pandemic. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets says the inspections will begin with a phone call, followed by an email and an online form to gather information about number of harvested lots, yields, and results of contaminant testing,… Continue reading Vermont to conduct ‘contactless’ inspections of hemp operators during COVID
Charlotte’s Web says another labeling lawsuit should wait for FDA
Charlotte’s Web Holdings says that labeling lawsuits against CBD makers must wait while federal regulators consider how to regulate the hemp extract. The company made the argument last week in a federal court in California, where it is asking a judge to follow the direction of other federal judges and dismiss CBD labeling suits as… Continue reading Charlotte’s Web says another labeling lawsuit should wait for FDA
EU drug agency flags CBD market issues in report on low-THC cannabis products
The European Union’s drug agency has signaled that it is mulling the legal and commercial status of CBD and cannabis-based products in Europe in a new report. The Lisbon-based European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction published the report on Monday, detailing the results of a study that kicked off in 2018 and aimed… Continue reading EU drug agency flags CBD market issues in report on low-THC cannabis products