Last week, a federal prosecutor sought and obtained a temporary restraining order against a hemp company, alleging that it did not comply with the regulations of the state’s agricultural pilot program.  Specifically, the suit argued that the West Virginia company illegally imported seeds from a Kentucky pilot program participant.  According to the complaint, the law…

We’d like your help. Will you send an e-mail to CA Governor Jerry Brown in support of hemp? Last month, the California General Assembly overwhelmingly passed SB 1409, which would dramatically expand the hemp industry in the Golden State.  Under the strong sponsorship of Senator Scott Wilk, SB 1409 helps reconcile California’s current laws with the federal Farm Bill.  In so…

Back in May, the hemp world was shaken when Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) issued an advisory bulletin on hemp and cannabidiol (“CBD”) that suggested that CBD would be regulated as if it were medical marijuana.  The Roundtable sprung into action, and LARA clarified that it would not be engaging in enforcement…

While the eyes of the nation were glued to a particular Supreme Court nomination hearing today, the hemp world was focused on a meeting in the neighboring US Senate office building.  For three hours today, the House/Senate Conference Committee for the 2018 Farm Bill met for the first time, and hemp was on the agenda.…

The long-awaited first meeting of the US House/Senate Conference Committee on the 2018 Farm Bill will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, September 5, at 9:30 AM.  9 Senators and 47 Congressmen will sit down for the first time to try to reconcile the differences between the two versions of the bill, with the hopes of final…

The past week brought both good and meh news on the ongoing hemp legalization battle.   First the good news:  Illinois joined the hemp party as Governor Bruce Rauner signed legislation that legalizes the farming of hemp.  Even better, Senate Bill 2298 expands the definition of hemp – which is exempted from drug control —…

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable has engaged Daniel Cameron, an attorney in Frost Brown Todd’s Louisville office, to lead its advocacy efforts through passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. Daniel previously served in Washington, D.C. as United States Senator Mitch McConnell’s legal counsel, where he worked on law enforcement issues, telecommunications policy, and hemp-related legislation. Here’s Daniel’s…

In an historic resolution, the World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Drug Dependence just recommended that “preparations considered to be pure CBD should not be scheduled within the International Drug Control Conventions.” Some key findings from the WHO: The Kids Are All Right: “There are no case reports of abuse or dependence relating to…

It’s On. Today, the Senate named their representatives to the House/Senate conference committee for the 2018 Farm Bill.  Here’s the full list of House and Senate conferees. In a rare move, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell named himself to the conference committee – meaning he will be in the room when the permanent fate of…

Recently, the California Department of Health issued this public statement about hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD).  In summary, the agency argues that hemp-derived CBD products CANNOT be sold in retail markets in the Golden State. The US Hemp Roundtable refuses to accept this conclusion. Today, we have sent the agency this letter, strongly arguing that the Department’s interpretation…