USDA Public Comment Period for Hemp Policies Gets Over 500 User Comments

The United States Department of Agriculture issued interim final rules last month concerning hemp. The rules include provisions for the USDA to approve a hemp production plan that have been developed by the states and Indian tribes. The rules involve requirements for maintaining information on the land where hemp is grown, testing levels of THC, disposing of plants that do not meet the requirements, and more.

According to a report by Marijuana Moment, over 500 people have commented on the USDA hemp rules, and several of the comments reflect the concerns about the hemp rules. For example, Christopher Gromek, a hemp business owner, commented that hemp containing more than the legal limit of THC, also known as “hot hemp” should be addressed by growers before it is thrown out.

There also appear to be concerns about the THC testing process, and that the testing should only focus on deta-9 THC and not all types of THC. Other commenters recommended increasing the permissible THC limit to 1 percent, while others voiced that the testing timeline should be altered.

The comment period will be open until December 31. Once the comment period closes, the USDA will work to develop the final rules. At this point, there is no indication as to how the USDA will take into account the comments when finalizing the rules. In addition, the FDA is in the process of issuing its draft rules concerning hemp-derived CBD products. Once the regulations are finalized, it seems that there will be a solid framework for hemp regulation and industry standards that farmers, businesses, and other stakeholders can rely on.

If you have a comment concerning the interim rules, do not forget to voice your views – it certainly is your opportunity to do so until the comment period closes.