New Year, New Hemp Bills!

The New Year has brought a flurry of hemp and CBD bills worth raising awareness about. We are continuing to pore through the hundreds of bills that have already been introduced in state legislatures around the country. Some are moving quickly through the legislative process and need our attention.

This week, we alert you to the following:

California: AB 45 and SB 235 would allow the distribution and sale of hemp CBD as a food, beverage, and dietary supplement (subject to labeling requirements) and would make clear that a product is not adulterated or misbranded due to the inclusion of hemp. These bills have been in the making for two years and are among the Roundtable’s highest legislative priorities. California Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center to urge state legislators to support AB 45 and SB 235.

Connecticut: Hidden deep within HB 6099—a bill that makes technical adjustments to Connecticut’s marijuana laws—is a requirement that hemp intended to be manufactured into hemp products must be tested by an independent lab in Connecticut. We oppose this kind of lab restriction because it is likely to cause bottle-necking delays for hemp testing. It makes more sense that hemp producers be able to use independent labs throughout the northeast for a quicker testing turnaround. Connecticut Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center to urge state legislators to amend HB 6099.

New Hampshire: HB 272 explicitly authorizes the sale of CBD in foods and food additives, adopts the 2018 Farm Bill’s definition of hemp, and adds labeling and CBD product registration requirements. Unfortunately, the law adds a troublesome requirement that all hemp-derived CBD food products be manufactured in New Hampshire. Such restrictive sourcing requirements stifle the free market and deprive New Hampshire citizens of beneficial products. New Hampshire Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center to urge state legislators to remove the manufacturing requirement from this otherwise helpful bill.

Utah: SB 39 makes it illegal to add CBD to a food or alcoholic beverage, undoing years of efforts to deliver safe and beneficial products to Utah residents. The bill also prohibits selling a product that contains more than 0.3% of either total THC or delta-8 THC. Utah Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center to urge state legislators to preserve their rights to access CBD food products.

Virginia: SB 1115 clarifies that “hemp products” can include raw materials from any part of the plant that are added to foods or beverages. The bill also removes the unnecessary and confusing requirement that the product be “otherwise lawful.” Virginia Hemp Supporters are encouraged to use our State Action Center to urge state legislators to support SB 1115.

As we did in 2020, we will continue to provide periodic alerts about hemp and CBD bills moving through state legislatures. And this year we will also feature important hemp and CBD regulations being proposed at the state level. As a preview, next week’s alert will focus on bills that create licensing requirements for hemp and CBD products.