Alert: New Bills in NC, Updates in MN, NH & VT

North Carolina

Three new bills in North Carolina will firmly legalize hemp and hemp products and create a friendlier environment for hemp production. SB 765, a marijuana legalization bill, swaps North Carolina’s expiring hemp pilot program structure for a 2018 Farm Bill hemp plan. SB 455 and SB 762 redefine hemp to match the 2018 Farm Bill’s federal definition, define hemp product to include “all products made from hemp,” and redefine THC in North Carolina’s controlled substances law to exclude hemp and hemp products. SB 455 quickly passed both the state House and Senate, and SB 762 passed the state Senate. The bills have momentum and appear to lack opposition.

Minnesota

Yesterday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed HF 4065, a bill that establishes THC limits for edible cannabinoids products but also sets a 21-or-older age restriction for all hemp-derived cannabinoid products. The law goes into effect August 1. While the law is mostly positive, we will mobilize next year to ensure the age restriction does not apply to non-intoxicating hemp products.

 

New Hampshire

We’ve been following HB 272 in New Hampshire, which has a two-year legislative session (ending later this year). The bill clarifies that the retail sale of hemp-derived CBD in foods and food additives is legal, adds helpful product labeling and registration requirements, but requires that CBD food products be manufactured in New Hampshire. We alerted to the bill last year—with a call that the manufacturing restriction be amended out. The bill passed the state House in 2021 and was carried over to 2022. The bill failed to pass out of committee in the Senate but was approved for committee interim study. Stay tuned for if the bill is introduced again next session.

Vermont

Earlier this week, Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed SB 188. The bill creates broad definitions for hemp and hemp products within Vermont’s cannabis control statutes. The bill requires the Cannabis Control Board to implement regulations for testing and to develop a quality control program for hemp and hemp-infused products. On or before January 1, 2023, the Board must submit recommendations to state House and Senate committees on how it would regulate hemp products, what products would be regulated, and whether licenses and registration fees would be required. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Board to regulate synthetic cannabinoids. We’ll watch closely for the Board’s recommendations.

Primary Sponsor

 


Karma Koala Podcast

Top Marijuana Blog