According to HIA (Hemp Industries Association), raising the THC threshold within America is crucial for the stability of the hemp sector.
Jody McGinness, HIA Executive Director, said that the association supports this week’s proposed legislation from Rand Paul, Kentucky Senator, to change hemp’s meaning. Hemp is presently termed as marijuana containing no more than 0.3 percent THC. Rand’s proposal would push the threshold to 1% THC.
The Republican’s reform would also change the THC limit for hemp end products like extracted oils. Products with over 1% THC will still be classified under the illegal Schedule 1 substances.
The bill also authorizes farmers to only have final products tested rather than the raw crop material. This opens an opportunity for hot hemp mitigation.
Paul said that more work is needed to stop the state administration from burdening growers with worthless bureaucratic micromanaging.
Less than a month ago, Sid Miller (agriculture commissioner of Texas) also called on the Congress to increase the THC threshold, citing that 0.3 percent is very low.
McGinness said that the measure is an interesting development.
He added that the HIA views a higher THC cap to be critical in clearing the pathway for farmers’ products and offering the necessary stability.
McGinnes went on to point out testing and sampling adjustments in the proposal, citing that could make the act of hemp cultivation more practical worldwide.
No announcements or advancements have been made on Paul’s reform, which has to get the approval of both Congress chambers in the lame-duck session. The Senate hasn’t tackled the reform to get rid of all marijuana from the Act of Controlled Substances, despite the THC level. That proposal left the House during early December.
These proposals will expire in January when a new congress comes in and have to start working on new legislation.
