On Tuesday, lawmakers received a congressional report that outlines the hemp market in the U.S., as well as policy changes.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently released a report titled “Production, Marketing, and Regulation of Hemp Products,” which provides a crash course to lawmakers.
The congressional report covers three leading markets for hemp: fiber, seed/grain, and flower. However, CRS notes various suggestions pointing to “a separate, marketable category” of hemp that focuses on the extracted compounds like CBD oil.
The CRS report reveals another sign supporting the normalization of cannabis/hemp in Congress since the 2018 Farm Bill. This bill legalized hemp at the federal level.
Hemp has many uses, including cosmetics, food, dietary supplements, textiles, yarns, fabrics, paper, home furnishings, carpeting, insulation materials, biocomposites, and so much more.
For the U.S. hemp market, cannabinoid-infused food items and dietary supplements draw many people. In addition, in the hemp industry, multiple companies market CBD products for various health purposes.
Federal Regulations for Hemp
In terms of federal regulations for this category, things get more complicated. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has jurisdiction over this area. However, they have yet to develop rules or regulations for CBD products in the food supply.
“Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are considered to be the most abundant cannabinoids in cannabis, as well as the most medically valuable and most researched cannabinoids due to their physiological effects,” the congressional report said. “CBD and other known cannabinoids exist in both hemp and marijuana but in varying amounts. CBD is promoted as treatment for a range of medical conditions, despite limited scientific evidence to substantiate many of these claims.”
The report did avoid the increasingly popular cannabinoid delta 8. Although, the federal statute fails to regulate the cannabinoid clearly. It resides in a legal gray area due to the terminology in the Farm Bill. However, several states have taken action to clarify delta 8’s status.
Presently, from time to time, “some members of Congress continue to introduce legislation involving hemp,” the report says.
Senator Paul Rad introduced the Hemp Act of 2021 in Congress. If passed, this bill will modify the statutory definition of hemp. It will also relax some regulatory requirements that govern the USDA’s oversight of hemp cultivation. Lastly, the measure will triple the concentration of THC that hemp can legally contain.
In the meantime, the USDA announced in April that it is teaming up with a company on a two-year project to expand the hemp-based cosmetics market.
Last year, the USDA commenced plans to distribute a national survey to gain insights from hemp businesses to inform them about their approach to regulating the industry.
Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp-related news.