Farm Bill Amendment Poses a Threat to the Cannabis Industry

An amendment added to the House’s version of the Farm Bill could potentially put an end to America’s “brief experiment” with cannabis, leading to the collapse of a $28 billion industry, as reported by The Hill.

The amendment, introduced by Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., aims to overturn a 2018 law that allowed the cultivation of intoxicating cannabis due to ambiguity in the bill’s language.

A group of 22 state attorneys general wrote to Congress in March expressing concerns that the 2018 Farm Bill had facilitated the growth of a “massive gray market worth an estimated $28 billion” and needed to be addressed. They argued that the law had introduced cannabis-equivalent products into states’ economies without proper consideration of local regulations and consumer protections.

Miller’s amendment, co-sponsored by Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., clarifies the definition of legal hemp to exclude intoxicating cannabinoids, such as delta-8 THC.

Miller emphasized the importance of closing the loophole that allowed drug-infused THC products like Delta-8 to be sold in packaging resembling candy, particularly to teenagers. She highlighted the need to protect teenagers and children from exposure to addictive and harmful substances.

The hemp industry, viewing the amendment as a significant threat, urged representatives to oppose the Farm Bill unless the amendment is removed. The Hemp Roundtable described the language in the amendment as potentially detrimental to the hemp industry.