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19th November 2024
Hemp
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Global business and regulatory news covering the cannabis industry
Daily regulatory updates of legal changes in the cannabis sector, including monthly compilations
9th December 2024
- Germany: Last week, in response to a statement from the Federal Council, the federal government issued a comment about the Industrial Hemp Liberalisation bill. The bill permits indoor cultivation of industrial hemp and eliminates the “intoxication clause”, which states that the use of industrial hemp for commercial purposes must exclude the abuse of intoxication. The federal government emphasised that the bill focuses solely on industrial hemp, leaving other matters, such as recreational cannabis, outside its scope. The Federal Council did not oppose the removal of the “intoxication clause”.
4th December 2024
- South Africa: Legislation for the legal trade of cannabis is likely to be tabled in Parliament early next year as a part of initiatives to regulate the industry, according to the press. The government’s plan has been moved to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition due a strategy review at the Cabinet level. Among the plans to regulate the industry are revised levels of THC allowed in hemp and a medical cannabis revision. It is not clear whether recreational cannabis will be part of the planned changes.
19th November 2024
- US - Federal: Senate Democrats on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry have released a draft of the Farm Bill that would introduce changes to federal hemp laws and eliminate most intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid (IHDC) products. The bill proposes a change to how hemp is defined. Currently, hemp is federally legal if it contains no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. The new bill would revise this by requiring hemp to be tested for “total THC” content, which includes cannabinoids like delta-8 THC and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), rather than only delta-9 THC. The draft bill introduces a definition for “industrial hemp”, which includes fibre, stalks, grain, oil, seeds and other components of the plant that “will not be used in the manufacturing or synthesis of natural or synthetic cannabinoid products”.
18th November 2024
- Moldova: The federal government has passed an amendment to the regulation on the cultivation of plants containing narcotic or psychotropic substances, allowing cultivation of hemp varieties registered in the catalogue of plant varieties of Moldova. The amendment has changed the definition of hemp, so industrial varieties are distinguished from others and allows the growing of the former for industrial and horticultural purposes. While production of hemp seed, fibre and oil will be allowed, flower will remain restricted.
14th November 2024
- US - Texas: House Bill (HB) 1113, which would control the production and regulation of hemp in Texas, has been introduced. The bill would further establish a permit that would be required of hemp researchers and would create a criminal offence for cultivating hemp without a licence.
14th November 2024
- Lithuania: In Lithuania, the Cannabis Hub.LT 2024 conference exhibition gathered fibre hemp growers, processors and scientists from Lithuania and beyond, media reports. Among other discussions was a proposal to launch the Hemp for Victory 2.0 international initiative, which aims to ease EU administrative restrictions on the fibre hemp business and support its development in Ukraine. Hana Gabrielová from the European Industrial Hemp Association emphasised the need for regulatory changes to address the challenges of growing fibre hemp and combat its stigma.
13th November 2024
- Belgium: The Federal Public Service for Health, Food Chain Safety, and the Environment has updated its positive list of notified herbal products for smoking, which includes hemp flowers and other smokable cannabinoid products. Products not on the list may not be placed on the Belgian market without notification.
12th November 2024
- Germany: Last week, the Bundestag’s Committee on Agricultural Policy and Consumer Protection, Committee on Internal Affairs, Legal Affairs Committee, and Finance Committee published their recommendations on the Industrial Hemp Liberalisation Act. Although the bill does not address recreational cannabis, the committees recommended neutral packaging for all cannabis products (such as seeds) and reduction on the quantity given to members of cultivation associations, among other measures. Regarding industrial hemp, they recommended the retention of the “intoxication clause” and consideration of the alleged potential for abuse in the trade in industrial hemp. The plenary of the Bundesrat will vote on the proposal on 22nd November, although the bill does not require Bundesrat approval.
11th November 2024
- US - Ohio: Senate Bill (SB) 326, which would ban the sale of intoxicating hemp products in Ohio, has been introduced. SB 326 would define intoxicating hemp products as containing more than 0.5 mg of delta-9 THC per serving, 2 mg of delta-9 THC per package, or 0.5 mg of total non-delta-9 THC per package. The bill states that this act is an emergency measure “to protect Ohioans, especially Ohio’s youth, from untested, unregulated dangerous tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products”, and would therefore go into immediate effect.
31st October 2024
- Lithuania: Lithuania has notified to the European Commission Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) database the draft law amending the law on hemp grown for fibre. Among other things, the draft seeks to update definitions for fibre hemp products and derived products; allow cultivation of fibre hemp in covered areas for scientific research with proper authorisation; permit all accredited laboratories to test THC content in these products; and require that any production involving intermediate products exceeding the 0.2% THC limit can only be conducted by authorised legal entities based in Lithuania. The end of the standstill period is 28th January 2025.
31st October 2024
Lithuania: Lithuania has notified to the European Commission Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) database the draft law amending the Law on the Control of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. The draft law seeks to allow all accredited laboratories to acquire reference THC material for testing fibre hemp products. Currently, only one state laboratory conducts THC-level testing in fibre hemp products due to the lack of legal means for other laboratories to procure standard THC units. By granting this right, the legislation aims to increase competition and enable producers to better monitor their fibre hemp products. The end of the standstill period is 28th January 2025.
30th October 2024
- UK: The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) – an advisory body that makes recommendations to the government on drug-related issues – has supported the government proposal to raise the maximum THC content of industrial hemp grown outdoors from 0.2% to 0.3%, aligning it with that of the European Union. The ACMD also recommends applying a £580 fee to licences for hemp not containing more than 0.3% THC. This amount is the current applicable fee for hemp varieties not exceeding 0.2% THC.
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