Saul David Meshach | January 03, 2024
A coalition of thirty-three nonprofit organizations representing various aspects of the hemp supply chain has joined forces to outline key priorities for the impending Farm Bill. This critical legislation is poised to replace the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill), which federally sanctioned hemp. Despite missing the end-of-2023 deadline, discussions on the bill are ongoing, with lawmakers hinting at a potential one-year delay.
As negotiations progress throughout the year, these hemp industry organizations have identified seven crucial objectives. These objectives aim to not only generate employment opportunities but also offer regulatory guidance to farmers.
“With the Farm Bill facing a potential delay, extending beyond the upcoming presidential election, we now have an extended timeframe to build on the significant progress achieved this year,” remarked Jonathan Miller, General Counsel of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR), in a public statement. “The remarkable unity within our industry conveys a strong message to Congress. We are poised to capitalize on this opportunity to ensure that the final package reflects and prioritizes key objectives essential for the growth and sustainability of the hemp industry.”
As per a press release, the nearly thirty-three organizations are advocating for the following measures through the 2024 Farm Bill:
- Regulate CBD and other hemp-derived ingredients within the existing frameworks for dietary supplements and food additives, as specified in H.R. 1629 and S. 2451.
- Address the shortage of testing laboratories and ensure consumer protection by allowing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ISO 17025 accredited laboratories to test hemp products (refer to the proposal here).
- Ease regulatory requirements for hemp grain and fiber farmers through H.R. 3755 or S. 980, or through a tailored approach as outlined here.
- Allow the use of hemp grain in animal feed.
- Maintain the current definition of “hemp,” balancing consumer protections with continued market access to popular hemp products.
- Promote justice, equity, and environmental sustainability by repealing the felon ban in H.R. 1428, supporting hemp research at minority-serving institutions, and enhancing climate opportunities through carbon credit programs.
- Mandate that hemp crops be considered compliant unless they exceed 1% total THC, as defined by USDA (refer to the proposal here).
These united objectives for the upcoming Farm Bill represent a significant milestone, marking one of the first instances where industry stakeholders have aligned on a strategic legislative agenda. The Hemp Industries Association (HIA), the National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC), and the USHR collaborated last year to outline policy priorities. These priorities have undergone refinement and improvement following negotiations and feedback from various stakeholders.
“Responding to calls for unity in the hemp industry from Congress, we took action,” noted Patrick Atagi, President and CEO of NIHC, in a public statement. “The industry now speaks with a unified voice, emphasizing that hemp generates jobs, income, supports communities through taxes, and contributes to sustainable agriculture. By adopting the seven legislative proposals before them, Congress and the federal government can significantly grow the industry.”
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