From Reefer Madness to Regulatory Madness: The FDA’s Impact on the U.S. Hemp Industry

By Joseph Hickey Sr.,

The 2018 U.S. Farm Bill heralded a new era for industrial hemp, removing it from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and reclassifying it as an agricultural crop. This legislation also set the now famous 0.3% (3,000 parts per million or ppm) THC threshold to distinguish hemp from marijuana. However, just as the industry seemed poised for growth, expanding into markets like animal feed, American hemp farmers now face another significant regulatory hurdle: the FDA.

On August 20, 2024, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) approved an FDA regulation that sets a maximum THC concentration of 2 ppm (.0002%) in hemp meal fed to animals. This is an arbitrary limit lacking any scientific justification and yet another chapter in the FDA’s history of regulatory overreach when it comes to hemp.

The FDA’s Unrelenting Assault on Hemp

Since its inception in 1906, the FDA has played a critical role in protecting public health, but its history with hemp is one marked by misinformation and stigma. Even today, the FDA has not provided peer-reviewed scientific evidence that supports the claim that hemp or its cannabinoids, including THC, pose a danger to human or animal health. This lack of scientific transparency has fueled ongoing skepticism, particularly in light of the FDA’s long history of regulating hemp with what many see as an unjustifiable heavy hand.

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Pennsylvania Ag Secretary Seeks Knowledge in Montana

PA ag secretary Russell Redding, left, visits with Morgan Tweet, center, and Ken Elliott, founders of IND HEMP in Montana. Photo courtesy of Lancaster Farming
CLICK IMAGE FOR FULL PODCAST & ARTICLE COURTESY OF LANCASTER FARMING

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EVENTS

12th International Hemp Building Symposium
October 15-16, 2024, Staffanstorp, Sweden

Andean Hemp and Cannabis Trade Forum
October 17-18, 2024, Lima, Peru

3rd Annual Texas Hemp Summit
November 1-2, 2024, College Station, Texas

World Hemp Forum
November 19-20, 2024, Troyes, France

 Asia International Hemp Expo and Forum 2024
November 27-30, 2024, Bangkok, Thailand

11th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo – We go to ELEVEN
April 10-12, 2025, Estes Park, Colorado

Experience Hemp Berlin and the 22nd Annual EIHA Conference
June 11-13, 2025, Berlin, Germany

Add your event to Hemp Events, a free listing service for legitimate hemp industry events. Visit www.HempEvents.org 

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About Let’s Talk Hemp

Let’s Talk Hemp is a publication of WAFBA – We Are For Better Alternatives focused specifically on the subjects of industrial hemp, cannabis, sustainable agriculture, environment, healthy foods & supplements, and climate-smart applications. We present features and curate news from across the globe to share the benefits of hemp, cannabis, bio-based materials, and better alternatives. WAFBA also is the Producer of NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s leading hemp conference and exposition.

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