farm bill

As the U.S. hemp industry moves beyond the CBD bubble that led many farmers and manufacturers into financial strain, hemp fiber production is emerging as a promising alternative.  While specialty crops often create market volatility due to their niche appeal, hemp fiber could provide a more...

Idaho, the last U.S. state to legalize industrial hemp in April 2021, has significant potential to become a national leader in hemp cultivation. However, restrictive regulations are slowing the industry's growth, leaving farmers frustrated and cautious. "Everyone’s nervous that it’s...

Cannabis legalization in the U.S. has been marked by numerous challenges, creating both headaches and opportunities for businesses, consumers and regulators. While policies are normally well-intentioned, their implementation often leads to significant unexpected consequences. That’s because,...

Hemp companies in New Jersey have filed a lawsuit challenging the newly signed regulation that limits the sale of hemp derived products like Delta-8 THC. Arguing that the new regulations effectively criminalize hemp, the plaintiffs say hemp is federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, and that New...

Governor Gavin Newsom‘s emergency ban on hemp-derived THC products officially took effect on September 16, halting the sale of various hemp items across California.  This sweeping measure threatens to eliminate up to 90-95% of available hemp products, leaving patients, farmers,...

As the hemp industry grapples with regulatory challenges, Whitney Economics has drastically cut its 2030 hemp acreage forecast. The revised projection now stands at just 1.0 million acres, a stark 82% reduction from earlier estimates. This significant cut could lead to nearly $3.1 billion in lost...

As part of Benzinga’s special issue, we aim to help readers understand the ongoing national debate around this question: What should be done about the intoxicating hemp industry?  This issue has gained prominence as hemp-derived products, particularly intoxicating cannabinoids like Delta-8...

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have intensified their oversight of the cannabis industry, issuing another round of warning letters to companies on Tuesday. The businesses are accused of selling products infused with hemp-derived cannabinoids, such as...

America's largest cannabis companies are reconsidering their stance on hemp-derived products. Historically, they pushed for them to remain illegal. However, some companies, such as Curaleaf (OTC:CURLF), have recently changed strategy. Curaleaf’s New Direction A key player in the industry,...

In response to last week’s announcement of a bipartisan amendment to the Farm Bill seeking to ban intoxicating hemp products from the market, the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) sent a message to Congress — prohibition isn’t the answer. “Now is the time for...

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently clarified that the cannabinoid THCA must be included in THC concentration levels to comply with the legal definition of hemp, as specified by the 2018 Farm Bill. In a letter dated May 13, Terrence Boos, chief of the DEA's drug and chemical...

The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture approved an en bloc amendment introduced by Rep. Mary Miller (R) to the new Farm Bill that would effectively eliminate the majority of hemp-derived products.  "My amendment will close the loophole created in the 2018 Farm Bill that allows intoxicating hemp...

Explore the impact of Senate Dems and House GOP 2024 Farm Bill frameworks on the hemp industry. Key regulatory challenges examined. The Senate Agriculture Committee Democratic leadership and the House Agriculture Committee Republican leadership unveiled their frameworks for the 2024 Farm Bill. This...

The U.S. Cannabis Council penned a letter to the Senate and House Agriculture Committee urging it to address the “national crisis caused by unregulated intoxicating hemp products.” This issue, once again under the spotlight, transcends the simplistic framework of a debate between...

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) signed a bill into law last week banning the sale of unregulated hemp products.  House Bill 1125 prohibits "the chemical modification or conversion of industrial hemp and the sale or distribution of chemically modified or converted industrial hemp and to...