{"id":2170972,"date":"2024-02-08T08:07:02","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T13:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ceiling-on-thc-levels-remains-intact-for-industrial-hemp-growers\/"},"modified":"2024-02-08T08:17:35","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T13:17:35","slug":"ceiling-on-thc-levels-remains-intact-for-industrial-hemp-growers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ceiling-on-thc-levels-remains-intact-for-industrial-hemp-growers\/","title":{"rendered":"THC level limit remains for hemp growers"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fceiling-on-thc-levels-remains-intact-for-industrial-hemp-growers%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2170972&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Virginia&#8217;s Industrial Hemp Farmers Face Setback as Bill Stalls \u2064in Committee<\/h2>\n<p>Wednesday was a disappointing day \u200dfor Virginia&#8217;s \u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jon-tester-swore-he-wouldnt-depend-upon-lobbyists-as-a-senator-now-lobbyists-are-writing-his-bills\/\" title=\"Tester promised not to rely on lobbyists as a senator, but now they're drafting his legislation.\">industrial hemp farmers<\/a> as a \u200dbill that would\u2062 have expanded their cultivation opportunities hit \u2064a roadblock. Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpepper, presented\u200d a\u200d proposal to \u200cthe\u200c House\u2062 of Delegates \u200cAgriculture, Chesapeake and Natural \u2063Resources Committee, seeking to\u200c increase the allowable THC concentration\u2063 in industrial hemp from 0.6% to 1%. However, concerns about\u200d the potential impact on marijuana regulations in the state led to the bill being tabled.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cDominion Hemp is the largest hemp\u2063 animal\u200d bedding company in the \u2062United States. At\u2063 this point in time, we\u2063 have to source \u2062our materials from other states due to the restrictions\u2064 that currently\u2064 are on our Virginia farmers,\u201d said the company\u2019s founder, Marty Phipps.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The committee\u2063 members expressed worries\u200b about\u2062 the potential overlap between \u2063industrial hemp and marijuana industries, despite\u200c the bill\u2062 including\u2062 provisions for confiscating cannabis with higher\u200b THC concentrations. It is\u200b worth noting that many states regulate \u2062these two industries separately, as highlighted by the National Conference of State \u2063Legislatures.<\/p>\n<p>Industrial \u200chemp, derived from\u200c the seeds, oil, or\u200d fiber of the hemp plant, differs \u200dfrom\u2063 marijuana, which is primarily produced from the plant&#8217;s flowers or buds. The cultivation of industrial hemp is \u200da relatively new industry in the\u200d United States, with federal authorization granted in \u200b2014.<\/p>\n<p>The 2014 Federal \u2064Farm Act allowed states to establish research and pilot programs for industrial hemp. The 2018 Farm \u200bAct further\u2062 expanded the scope of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/some-are-calling-for-more-regulation-of-delta-8-thc-products-in-illinois\/\" title=\"Calls for increased regulation of Delta-8 THC products in Illinois are growing\">hemp production<\/a>. Under this legislation, if a state&#8217;s production plan was approved by the federal government, individuals could grow industrial hemp within the parameters set by their\u200d state.<\/p>\n<p>In November 2021, the Department\u200c of Agriculture approved Virginia&#8217;s Plan to Regulate Hemp Production,\u200d and the state began regulating\u200d industrial \u200chemp production in\u2063 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Freitas&#8217; bill aimed to adjust these regulations \u2063to accommodate\u200c higher THC levels in hemp. Farmers argued that this change would allow for\u200c the cultivation \u200cof a wider variety of hemp plants and improve crop predictability.<\/p>\n<p>However, the committee raised several questions and concerns. Del.\u200c Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, \u2062questioned how to differentiate\u200d between \u2062hemp grown for\u2062 industrial purposes and hemp\u2063 grown for other uses. Additionally, confusion arose\u2064 regarding\u200c the tracking of hemp growers in Virginia, with testimony from Erin Williams, the \u200cIndustrial\u2063 Hemp Program Manager for the Virginia Department of Agriculture, failing to provide clarity.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cCurrently, \u2062VDACs issues industrial \u2062hemp\u200c grower registrations \u200bso that anyone can grow hemp, any variety of hemp, be it fiber,\u200d grain or\u200d flower for cannabinoids\u2026. We don\u2019t currently ask applicants to\u2062 tell us what type they\u2019re gonna grow,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>After more than 20 minutes of discussion, Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, made a motion \u2063to table the bill due to the \u2063lingering \u2063concerns. \u2062The motion \u2063was supported by committee\u200d Democrats but opposed\u200d by committee Republicans.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What was the purpose of the bill proposed by Del.\u2062 Nick Freitas \u2063aiming to \u2063increase the allowable THC concentration in industrial hemp from 0.6% to 1%?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Or flower of\u2063 the Cannabis sativa plant, is \u2062used for a\u2064 variety of purposes such as \u200dtextiles, construction materials, food, and even CBD products. Unlike marijuana, industrial hemp \u200bhas a low concentration of THC, the psychoactive compound responsible for \u200bthe &#8220;high&#8221; associated with marijuana use. This \u200bdistinction is crucial\u2063 to understand why the bill proposed by Del. Nick\u200d Freitas aimed to increase the allowable THC concentration in\u2063 industrial hemp from 0.6% to 1%.<\/p>\n<p>Virginia&#8217;s industrial\u2062 hemp farmers have\u2063 been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-trump-preemptively-undercut-bidens-vaccine-mandate-push\/\" title=\"How Trump Preemptively Undercut Biden\u2019s Vaccine Mandate Push\">facing numerous challenges<\/a> in recent years, including market\u200d fluctuations and competition from other states. The potential \u2063expansion of their\u200b cultivation opportunities through the proposed bill was\u2063 seen as a significant opportunity for growth and economic development. However, \u200dconcerns about the \u200dimpact on marijuana regulations in \u200dthe state have caused a setback \u200cfor these farmers.<\/p>\n<p>One of the main\u200d concerns expressed by committee members was\u200d the \u2063potential overlap between industrial hemp and marijuana industries. While industrial\u200d hemp and \u2064marijuana both belong \u200dto the Cannabis sativa plant species, they have distinct differences in terms of THC concentration. The proposed\u2063 bill included provisions for\u2063 confiscating cannabis \u200dwith higher THC concentrations, aiming to ensure the separation\u200b between industrial hemp and marijuana.<\/p>\n<p>It is\u200c important to note that many\u200b states regulate industrial hemp and\u2063 marijuana separately. The National \u2062Conference of State \u200dLegislatures has recognized \u2062the need for clear regulations to differentiate between these two \u200dindustries. By \u200cdoing so,\u200b states can ensure that the cultivation, production, and\u200c sale of industrial hemp do not \u200cimpede existing marijuana regulations or create confusion in law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>The concerns raised by committee members are understandable. \u2062Marijuana regulations are complex and\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lithium-deposit-discovered-in-extinct-nevada-volcano-could-be-largest-in-the-world\/\" title=\"Massive lithium deposit found in Nevada volcano, potentially world's largest.\">sensitive\u2062 issues<\/a>, particularly in states where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/secret-service-says-marijuana-was-found-in-white-house-twice-so-far\/\" title=\"Marijuana discovered twice in White House, says Secret Service.\">marijuana remains illegal<\/a>\u2064 or has only recently \u200bbeen legalized for medical or recreational use. Striking the right balance \u2064between allowing the \u200dgrowth\u200c of the industrial hemp industry and safeguarding existing marijuana regulations requires careful consideration and analysis.<\/p>\n<p>However, it is essential not to overlook the \u200cpotential benefits that an expanded industrial hemp industry can bring to Virginia. Marty Phipps, founder of Dominion Hemp, highlighted the current restrictions faced\u2063 by Virginia farmers, forcing \u200bthem to source materials \u200dfrom other states. This reliance on external sources not only affects the \u200clocal economy but also hampers the development of \u200ba sustainable \u200band competitive industry within the state.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, an expanded industrial hemp industry has the potential\u2063 to create jobs, boost\u200b local businesses,\u200c and provide farmers with \u2063a viable alternative to traditional \u200dcrops. The versatility of industrial hemp opens\u2063 up \u2064opportunities in various sectors, ranging\u2064 from \u2063textiles and construction to food and CBD products. By\u200b supporting the\u200c growth of\u200b this \u2063industry, Virginia can position\u2064 itself \u200das a \u200bleader in the emerging hemp market and reap the benefits associated with it.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, while the \u200bbill\u200b proposed by Del. Nick Freitas\u2064 to increase the allowable THC concentration in industrial hemp faced a setback in committee hearings, it is important to continue the\u200d dialogue and find\u200b a solution\u2062 that accommodates the concerns regarding marijuana regulations\u2063 while \u200dsupporting the growth of Virginia&#8217;s industrial hemp industry. By striking the right balance, Virginia can seize the opportunities presented by this versatile and sustainable crop, benefiting both farmers and the state&#8217;s economy as\u2064 a whole.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Wednesday, Virginia&#8217;s industrial hemp farmers faced disappointment. Del. Nick Freitas proposed a bill to the House committee, seeking permission for farmers to grow industrial hemp with a THC concentration of up to 1%, instead of 0.6%. Unfortunately, the bill did not pass<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2849,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2170972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2170972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2849"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2170972"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2170972\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2170972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2170972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2170972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}