food policy legislation) measures to legalize industrial hemp sales, cultivation, and processing, according to a report from Forbes. Hemp is a variety of cannabis popular for its lower concentrations of THC and higher levels of CBD, the non-psychoactive component of marijuana. This has made it ideal for creating a variety of products, from plastics to biofuel to animal feed to yarn.

The federal ban on marijuana has made no distinction between these strains of cannabis and THC-laden versions, which has caused Americans to seek out everyday products that happen to include hemp from other countries. Finally, a bipartisan group of politicians, led by Mitch McConnell (R-KY), is standing up for this common sense action.

The bill would open the door to hemp farming nationwide, not just states with legalized marijuana, and would allow those plants to be insured just like other crops. As the bill stands, it also would legalize other products, such as CBD oil, which is used for many medical purposes, including pain, anxiety, and seizures. It has been touted as a useful resource in weaning people off of opioids and acting as an effective pain relief substitute.

Champions of cannabis watch in wonder as a plant the federal government has gone out of its way to demonize and criminalize has continually been given special exceptions. Legislators have attached an amendment to Congressional spending bills preventing federal prosecutors from using funding to go after operations that are following their own state’s laws. From state to state, opinions vary as to whether cannabis should only be used to treat very serious diseases, or if it can be recommended for any ailment a doctor so chooses, or if it can help friends relax and enjoy a good Saturday night. Debates rage over what levels of THC versus CBD should be allowed in products. Now hemp, an obviously innocent victim in the battle over cannabis, is finally back on the table in serious public debate. We have wasted so much time nit-picking which elements of the cannabis plant are good and which should be regulated, and we can mince words all we want. In doing so, however, we keep dodging the most relevant question: why on earth is this clearly beneficial plant still banned?

The answer, like many things, is political. Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812 put cannabis on the list of Schedule I narcotics, with the ludicrous claim that the drug is addictive, has no medical benefits, and is harmful even with supervision of a medical professional. The “evidence” to support these claims is dubious at best; yet supporters of marijuana have had to move mountains to prove its worth. This line of thinking has laid waste to many cannabis by-products, such as hemp papers, yarns, and fabrics, and CBD oil, none of which cause the high sensation that has ruffled so many feathers. In fact, hemp used to be a major crop in the U.S. before all the unnecessary hysteria over cannabis began. Instead of recognizing the nuances of the plant and its myriad uses, our country doubled down on banning it in every way possible until states started to fight back in recent years.

Our cannabis business attorneys in Riverside are very interested to see how developments regarding hemp and all its possible products play out. We are here to assist any business owners interested in the hemp industry figure out how changes to federal, state, and local laws could impact your business and potentially help it grow.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

Removing Hemp From Controlled Substances List Is Overdue, Farmer Says, June 28, 2018, By Esther Honig, NPR

More Blog Entries:

Too Many Weed Farms? No Such Thing with Hemp and CBD Oil, May 15, 2018, Cannabis Law Group

cannabis. Oregon in particular is reporting an excess in cannabis production, which is driving down the price of marijuana at dispensaries across the state, according to Associated Press. As a result, growers are exploring more options, including hemp (a low-THC strain of cannabis used in industrial goods) and CBD oil (made from the non-psychoactive compound in marijuana, cannabidiol).

It’s hard not to recognize the irony in this latest advancement: while hemp is a benign, useful resource that makes excellent, durable fabric, paper products, and oils, it was marijuana that helped usher it back into the spotlight. Marijuana has now been legalized in 29 states and Washington, D.C., at least for medical use with a handful also allowing recreational. This is in defiance of federal regulations prohibiting the sale or use of marijuana. California was the first to allow medical use with the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. It wasn’t until 2014, however, that the Agricultural Act, Sec. 7606 allowed agricultural departments and higher learning institutions to start cultivating hemp for research. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) recently spoke in favor of a bill that would give power over hemp regulation to the states.

Because hemp has more CBD and less THC than other strains of cannabis, it is ideal for producing CBD oil. This is also convenient since the Agricultural Act has made it possible to more easily produce this beneficial oil, used commonly for inflammation and anxiety, without the buzz of marijuana. CBD oil laws currently vary from state to state, despite the lack of side effects that make skeptics wary of marijuana.

At the founding of our country, we recognized cannabis as a valuable crop. In the early 1600s, Jamestown settlers grew and exported hemp plants in support of England. George Washington is said to have grown hemp. Hemp rope and fabric was a major part of the economy in the 1700s-1800s. Cannabis even appeared on $10 bills. Then the narrative shifted, with states labeling it as poison in the early 1900s, and the hysteria only mounting from there. Tensions culminated with marijuana officially becoming illegal nationwide with the creation of the Controlled Substances Act. in 1970. Until recently, this effectively killed not only forms of cannabis that caused a high sensation, but also the production of hemp and all of the beneficial products that come with it.

Our Los Angeles cannabis business lawyers know the resistance to marijuana legalization is antiquated and unfounded. It is even more perplexing, though, that products made with hemp were ever outlawed simply because hemp is a member of the cannabis family. The time we have lost being able to use hemp as an easy-to-farm renewable resource is an absolute tragedy. Likewise, CBD oil has proven to be an invaluable addition to the lives of Americans. We are glad to see more barriers coming down in regards to cannabis products and excited to see more get into the hemp and CBD oil market. If you are looking to diversify your products, our cannabis business attorneys can advise you on the best path for your company as well as help you remain in compliance with state and local laws.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

McConnell Backs Bill to Ease Up on Hemp Cultivation, March 26, 2018, Burgess Everett, Politico

More Blog Entries:

Industry Guidelines for Hemp Regulation, Labeling and Manufacturing Released, April 13, 2015, Cannabis Law Group

The women who work at the company wear habits similar to those in worn by Catholic nuns, but the company is not affiliated with any Catholic order. She calls this her new calling, and this is to provide much needed medical cannabis to patients in need. She operates the company from her home and says that she is working to erase any negative stigma commonly associated with medical marijuana. She wants to make it clear that this is medicine with true healing ability and not just an excuse for people to smoke pot and get high.There are seven members of her company, and all of them are also nuns. They made their habits from used pillowcases and wear white shirts with denim skirts. They grow hemp, which is closely related to marijuana, and make a variety of products including salves, tinctures, and oils. These products are made from hemp, so they contain CBD and do not contain any significant amounts of THC.

There is much debate over whether CBD alone has any real medical benefits, but it is argued by many vendors that it is just as powerful a painkiller and stress reliever without any of the euphoric effects of marijuana, which are caused by the active THC.

There is also a lot of debate surrounding the legality of CBD products. As our Riverside medical cannabis attorneys can explain, the government allows hemp to be manufactured and sold due to a 2004 court opinion that excluded hemp. Hemp was used for hundreds of years before being outlawed for purposes that had nothing to do with drug use. It has been used in many commercial and even industrial applications.

These days, you can go into the one of the many tobacco vape shops and purchase CBD oil made from hemp, even in states where medical marijuana is illegal, and there is much debate over whether not this is allowed, but there has been little enforcement. One of the reasons for this may be that users are not getting high or taking it recreationally, so it is not considered that big a deal, and it falls under what many consider a gray area anyway.

Under this reasoning that hemp is not illegal, the Sisters of the Valley sell their products on the Internet and will ship them to anywhere the customer requests. They currently grow 12 hemp plants in the home’s garage that is now a greenhouse with artificial grow lights. 12 plants is the most allowed under local law. One thing to keep in mind is that it often takes much more industrial hemp to extract usable oil than it does with marijuana. This means the environmental costs and so-called carbon footprint is much larger when dealing with hemp as opposed to marijuana in many cases.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients and those facing marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

These California ‘nuns’ are making a living selling pot products on the internet, May 1, 2017, By Melia Robinson, Business Insider

More Blog Entries: Report: Colorado Marijuana Laws May Not be Safe, Feb. 5, 2017, L.A. Marijuana Lawyer Blog