GOP House leaders have released a draft version of large-scale agriculture legislation that could reduce regulatory barriers for certain hemp farmers and scale-back a ban on industry participation by people with prior drug felony convictions. The legislation also omits any provisions that would ban hemp-derived cannabinoid products that some parties have pushed for.
The House Agriculture Committee unveiled the draft 2024 Farm Bill on Friday—just days before a scheduled markup next week. It would build upon the federal legalization of the crop under the 2018 version of the legislation in several meaningful ways, though hemp stakeholders caution there may be attempts to undermine the industry with amendments.
One of the key changes that’s included in the current draft would revise the definition of hemp, creating separate categories for producers who grow the crop for cannabinoid extraction for human and animal consumption and for “industrial hemp” producers who cultivate it for fiber, grain, oil and seed not intended for consumption.
Under the draft legislation, those who are licensed as “industrial hemp” producers could see reduced regulatory restrictions, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), states and Indian tribes empowered to authorize visual inspections and “performance-based sampling methodologies” for compliance purposes.
Farmers
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