INDUSTRY UPDATES
February 21, 2020
Hemp Bills Worth Fighting For!
For this week’s update, we are asking our hemp warriors in North Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire and Oklahoma to urge legislators to improve some bills that aren’t quite ready for battle. Help us restore honor to the bills by using our State Action Center to contact your legislators and urge them to ensure that these bills reach their potential. Only with your bravery and courage can we win these battles and this war!
NORTH CAROLINA: This session’s amendment to Senate Bill 352, initially filed in May 2019, is an excellent example of a progressive and informed stance taken by the State of North Carolina. The amended bill explicitly removes hemp products containing the less than 0.3% THC from the definition of a Schedule VI controlled substance under North Carolina law. This is consistent with the Roundtable’s position that CBD products are distinctly different than marijuana products and should be expressly excluded from any controlled substance law affecting the latter. As you recall, we fought hard to defeat SB315 last session (click herefor a brief summary and the Roundtable’s post related to the same) and are pleased that North Carolina has now changed their position toward the hemp and CBD industry.
FLORIDA: Last year, Florida enacted one of the most hemp- and CBD-friendly laws in the nation. As with any comprehensive legislation, there is still room for improvement. SB1876 improves last year’s legislation by removing unfair and unnecessary labeling requirements for CBD products and takes out requirement of a lengthy verbatim THC disclosure. The bill also puts Florida’s line in full compliance with the U.S. Farm Bill of 2018. The Roundtable has covered the progression of Florida’s hemp program for some time now (click here) and are excited to see that all of our hard work has paid off. Let’s keep the ball rolling and urge Florida legislators to make Florida the most hemp- and CBD-friendly state in the country.
OKLAHOMA: In January 2019, a local Oklahoma police department seized 18,000 pounds of hemp that was being transported from Kentucky to Colorado. Thankfully, those charges were eventually dropped. In response to the national outcry from this issue, Oklahoma’s Senate is considering SB 1783, which authorizes hemp to be transported in and out of state. The bill also expands the state’s current hemp growing program. Oklahoma Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center to urge state legislators to support SB 1783.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Last week we informed you about HB 1581, an otherwise good bill that expressly limits the sale of products containing hemp-derived CBD to products manufactured in the state of New Hampshire. The Senate is also considering SB 669, which originally authorized the sale of hemp-derived CBD products produced outside of New Hampshire. Unfortunately, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee just amended SB 669 by stripping away this important language. New Hampshire is continuing to follow a questionable path that harms farmers, promotes trade wars, and denies consumers access to safe, legal products. New Hampshire Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center to urge state legislators to reject the Senate Committee’s amendment and allow for the sale of safe, legal, out-of-state hemp products.
