The farm bill (Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018) was the last major
piece of legislation to be passed under the Trump administration, before
the Democrats took over the House in January 2019. And it promises a bright
future for the hemp industry in the United States, which has been growing
for years, and now enjoys a level of federal protection, and a chance for
American farmers to take a slice of the pie.
Until recently, while hemp-derived CBD products have been made and sold in
the US, manufacturers like Koi CBD have been
forced to source and import their hemp from abroad, with the highest
quality plants typically coming from northern Europe. This has undoubtedly
pushed prices up for the consumer somewhat, and with the farm bill now
leaving it up to the states to decide whether they want to allow hemp
cultivation, American CBD producers should find it easier and cheaper to
source their hemp domestically.
2018 farm bill clears up legal uncertainties
The 2014 farm bill was the gateway for CBD products to be sold legally
everywhere in the US, whether or not a state had recreationally or
medicinally legalized cannabis. In fact, the growing medical cannabis
conversation over the past few years has little to do politically with the
advancement of hemp, which is considered a separate entity, even though
it's actually cannabis sativa.
But while the old farm bill legalized hemp products with less than 0.3
percent THC, it made no direct reference to other cannabinoids. But with
the ruling only setting a limit on THC, non-psychoactive CBD products which
can be used to enhance wellbeing and treat myriad conditions sprung onto
the market straightaway. The potential problem was that cannabis remained
illegal, and under the Controlled Substances Act, all cannabinoids remained
prohibited. While, barring a few isolated cases, this hasn't led to
crackdowns and seizures on CBD, it did leave businesses in some limbo.
However, the new farm bill explicitly clarifies that all cannabinoids are
permitted in hemp products, and that they are legal providing the maximum
THC percentage is respected. The farm bill is meant to apply to industrial
hemp, however medical-grade hemp can also fall under this banner. The
popularity of CBD hemp oil has soared, with increasing evidence that it can
help with complex, hard-to-treat illnesses, including refractory epilepsy.
What a soaring hemp-based CBD market means for Americans
The CBD industry is anticipated to grow several times over during the
next few years
, which should translate to more companies and products on the market. As
with any industry, innovation is essential, and manufacturers are
consistently identifying new ways that CBD can be used positively - we now
have CBD coffee for instance, which combines the benefits of CBD with
caffeine. Nanotechnology is also developing and making water-soluble CBD
that has a higher bioavailability could soon become a priority. Indeed,
Hemplucid
have already come up with a full-spectrum, water-soluble CBD tincture.
Moreover, CBD should enjoy increased legitimacy going forward, as
researchers showcase new potential uses for the compound in studies.
Analysis of CBD users has already shown that products are being taken for a
variety of conditions, but there is no substitute to actual science. CBD
research was never completely stopped by the ban on cannabis, but the
barriers to research have historically been so high for studying
cannabinoids that today's scientists are certainly having to make up for
lost time.
What's next for cannabis in the United States?
Beyond CBD, America is having a much wider debate about cannabis at state
and federal level. The movement looks to be only going one way in the
states, with an increasing number choosing to adopt medicinal or
recreational legislation. And many of the states which remain resistant to
THC are still helping patients on some level by introducing CBD-only laws.
In Washington, the Trump administration is notorious for its
unpredictability, although cannabis advocates enjoyed a boost with the
departure of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. However, President Trump's new
AG nominee, William Barr,
has also vociferously expressed opposition to marijuana, but has pledged to not go after states that have already legalized.
A federal rescheduling of cannabis, therefore, looks unlikely during this
administration, but with healthcare such a hot topic due to the opioid
crisis, weed may play a big role in the 2020 general election debate. On
the surface, that has to be good news.
