It's been a busy time for hemp in the national's capital. As discussed earlier this week, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb offered new hope for a path towards the full acceptance of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) as a food additive and/or nutritional supplement. Yesterday, he told a Congressional committee that he has heard the people's voice: "We heard Congress loud and clear...Congress wants there to be a pathway for CBD to be available." Commissioner Gottlieb followed that up with a pledge that the FDA will hold a public meeting in April to initiate a rulemaking procedure for CBD. His goal is to create "an appropriately efficient and predictable regulatory framework for regulating CBD products." Read more about Gottlieb's testimony here. Meanwhile, the US Department of Agriculture released its first comprehensive guidance about hemp production under the 2018 Farm Bill. It is USDA’s intention to issue regulations in the Fall of 2019 to accommodate the 2020 planting season. The rulemaking will provide for the publishing of a proposed rule, comment period, and a final rule. Read the agency's guidance here, and view answers to some commonly asked questions here. A Farm Bill listening session on industrial hemp production will occur on March 13, 2019. The listening session will be held in the form of a webinar and will be open to the general public. For more information, visit the Marketing Program for the Commercial Production of Hemp page on the USDA website. Please send questions or request for information to farmbill.hemp@usda.gov.