As of December 12, 2018, the 2018 Farm Bill has passed both houses of Congress! If you haven’t found the time to browse the 807-page document in its entirety yet, don’t worry. We have a quick summary of what the passing of the Farm Bill means for CBD.
First, hemp is no longer a part of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This means it is no longer a controlled substance – instead, hemp is now an “agricultural commodity.”
Plus, hemp now legally includes “extracts, cannabinoids, and derivatives.” These two changes mean that CBD legally falls under the category of hemp – and is no longer a controlled substance!
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) no longer has any claim to interfere with the commerce of hemp products. This change should give institutions like advertising platforms and e-commerce more freedom to conduct business with the hemp industry.
In addition, hemp farmers can finally access crop insurance and participate fully in USDA programs. This change allows farmers to earn certifications and competitive grants, which offer the opportunity for higher quality, better-regulated products.
While State and Tribal governments can still impose restrictions on hemp, they cannot interfere with interstate transport of it.
Since hemp-derived CBD falls into the new definition of hemp, hemp has now been removed from the CSA, and it can be transported across the country, many new opportunities for people to enjoy the numerous beneficial qualities of CBD have now opened up!
As of December 20th, 2018, the Farm Bill has officially been signed into law. This bill is an amazing step for the CBD industry, and we’re excited to see what comes next! We’re looking forward to seeing state officials follow Congress’ lead – Alabama has already followed suit, and we can’t wait to watch the rest of the country to properly recognize the medical benefits of CBD.
