Hemp Industry News : Sept 16

European Industrial Hemp Association confirms hemp is not subject to international drug rules. Additionally, they advise increasing the maximum allowed THC level to 1.0%. This comes as a response to “challenges for a flourishing hemp sector” in lead up to the United Nations vote on medical CBD, FDA finalized rules, and the European Commission concluding that “non-medical natural hemp extracts should be considered narcotics.” They argue that since competing hemp producing countries set THC levels at 1.0% for hemp that those countries will experience the market advantage and not experience the financial loss from destroying hot hemp. Read More

Congressmen introduce a “bipartisan bill to provide certainty for hemp farmers that their crop may find legal uses.” Not only would this bill make “cannabidiol derived from hemp lawful” but also “create immense confidence in hemp and CBD products.” This legislation will require support to pass and grow the hemp-extracted products to exceed $10 billion. Read More.

As if 2020 did not already feel like the apocalypse, the plague of grasshoppers swarms Montana hemp fields. “The fields that got hit are just annihilated.” While grasshopper swarms are not uncommon in the western U.S., however, this year was the “perfect concoction.” Read More

Martha Stewart and Canopy Growth partner on an edible wellness CBD product line. The year in development launch took place on Thursday and the pet line will quickly follow. Stewart said she “was surprised to learn that while most people have heard of CBD, less than 20% of us have actually tried it." The partnership is banking on her “trusted voice” to break through the currently oversaturated market. Read More

The Navy continues enforcing a drug-free workplace and expands its ban of CBD to include topicals. Officials claim the rules were updated to “protect sailors from potential THC exposure...where label claims are not trustworthy.” However, Sailors with a “valid medical prescription for CBD are still allowed,” but if they test positive for THC “they could be discharged.” Read More

New Hemp Innovation Alert: Water Soluble Full Spectrum Extracts! SF Weekly explores the opportunity for water-soluble hemp to “catalyze the industrial hemp industry into an unprecedented period of growth.” This innovation provides a solution for at least hemp food and beverage as well as topicals. Read More