Controversial Debate Regarding Legal THC Levels In Hemp Plant

Controversial Debate Regarding Legal THC Levels In Hemp Plant Sets Stage for Discussion at Experience Hemp SUMMER SOLSTICE, June 16-19, 2020

Hemp Advocates Lobby to Change Rigid Government Policies. Panelists to Discuss Why The One Percent Ranking is the Solution for the Hemp Industry and Why The USDA’s 0.3 Percent is Arbitrary and Wrong. Join the Conversation and Have Your Voice Heard on Hemp Regulations.

By Heather Collins, Compass Natural Marketing

It’s spring and hemp farmers are busy putting seeds in the ground, hoping that this year’s crop will not only be bountiful but safe from destruction due to the USDA’s 0.3 percent mandate. It’s a risk that resonates throughout the industry, specifically for farmers who must wait to see if their crop gets the green light at harvest.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), all domestic hemp plants receive THC level testing and cannot exceed 0.3 percent in THC, which differentiates legal hemp from illegal marijuana. For example, the USDA deems that if a tested hemp plant exceeds the mandated 0.3 percent at harvest, then that farmer must destroy that crop.

That mandate has not been favorable in the eyes of farmers, which has left many empty-handed in a field of green hope. Last year, according to Pew Trust’s Stateline, 4,309 acres of hemp in 16 states were destroyed because those plants tested over the 0.3 percent limit. Additionally, Cannabis Business Times reports that the U.S. trails other countries, such as Thailand and Switzerland, where they have enacted the one percent rule for hemp plants.

As the U.S. hemp market continues to evolve, so does the controversial debate between farmers and government officials regarding THC levels found in hemp plants. The discussion has drawn mixed criticism industry-wide and has gained national media attention for the government’s complex policy.

Notable hemp farmer Doug Fine indicated in a recent blog on Vote Hemp that farmers have their work cut out for them this year. “We’ve got to get the federal definition of hemp changed to one percent, pronto, before the recent USDA Interim Final Regulations kick in in October,” wrote Fine. “When up to 40% of an industry’s players – let alone a soil-building, humanity-saving industry’s players – have to destroy their product before it reaches market due to a relic of an absolutely arbitrary war that we’ve won, that is a policy that needs to change. . . this time, the farmers are in charge.”

The 1.0 Percent Solution – Why 0.3 Percent THC is Arbitrary and Wrong

Organizers of NoCo Hemp Expo’s Experience Hemp SUMMER SOLSTICE Virtual Conference and Trade Show are aware of the community’s need to unify and lobby for effective change. That’s why they dedicated a live webcast on the topic during their upcoming Expo: The 1.0 Percent Solution – Why 0.3 Percent THC is Arbitrary and Wrong, June 18, 2:00 pm MDT.

“The hemp industry is fired up regarding this numbers game farmers are having to play with the government, which sets them up for the undue risk. This is a crucial time for our community to unite and effectively lobby for Congress to change the ruling to one percent,” said Morris Beegle, Let’s Talk Hemp Media Co-founder and Producer of NoCo Hemp Expo. “We’re looking forward to this lively discussion at next month’s Expo and hope that people take advantage of the open forum to be heard on this matter.”

Experience Hemp SUMMER SOLSTICE

The ‘One Percent’ discussion is one of six, 90-minute live webcasts that featured during the Experience Hemp SUMMER SOLSTICE Virtual Conference & Trade Show. Each webcast Supersession will be offered twice a day, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 16-18. Let’s Talk Hemp webcast hosts Morris Beegle and Rick Trojan will lead the live interactive chats with panelists and guest speakers.

Virtual Expo Halls

Attendees will also have access to the virtual Expo Halls featuring a variety of hemp businesses, brands, products, and services and chat with industry professionals. The interactive rooms offer an opportunity to connect with hemp-based companies and keep the conversations moving forward to strengthen our industry.

• Explore innovative hemp brands from around the globe
• Engage, discuss and make valuable connections in the virtual Networking Lounges
• Search for career opportunities and post resumes in the Job Fair Lounge
• Catch footage from past hemp events in the Library

The Expo halls will remain open through Friday, June 19, with pre-recorded content, trade show, and more networking opportunities, including dozens of videos and pre-recorded content in the exclusive Let’s Talk Hemp Library & Archives.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Register today for the FREE Experience Hemp SUMMER SOLSTICE Virtual Conference & Trade Show. If you participated and registered for the NoCo Hemp Expo EARTH WEEK virtual event this past May, attendees can log in on June 16, 2020, with the same email address. For Exhibitor and Sponsor interest, please click here for more information.

About Let’s Talk Hemp Media

Let’s Talk Hemp is a leading media platform that focuses on “Changing the Cannabis Conversation.” We curate news, education, and information about hemp and cannabis to our podcast listeners, newsletter subscribers, and digital magazine readers so that they can learn more about the industry and get tips and tricks on the latest technologies. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and learn about everything from legal updates, farming, production, and new products entering the hemp and cannabis space. Let’s Talk Hemp is a publication of the Colorado Hemp Company (a division of We Are For Better Alternatives WAFBA) focused specifically on the subject of industrial hemp and cannabis. Let’s Talk Hemp features news globally and shares the benefits of cannabis on health, energy, manufacturing, and the planet (HEMP).

About Colorado Hemp Company
The Colorado Hemp Company, the producer of the 7th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo (NoCo7), is a leading organization for the advancement and advocacy of hemp farming, processing, production, innovation, education, and legalization in the USA. The entire team is committed to researching and developing alternatives so that hemp can once again thrive and help individuals and communities throughout America and around the globe.

Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
Morris Beegle, Colorado Hemp Company, 970.541.0448, info@nocohempexpo.com