The governor of Minnesota on Thursday signed a large-scale bill into law that includes provisions to provide permanent protections allowing state hemp businesses to legally market certain cannabis products—including foods and beverages infused with CBD and other cannabinoids.
Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed the omnibus legislation without specifically addressing the cannabis components, instead focusing in a press release on separate provisions aimed at addressing the opioid overdose crisis.
But for the industry, the enactment of the measure marks an important step in the push for clear hemp policy reform. Advocates remain disappointed, however, that broader marijuana legalization didn’t advance through the GOP-controlled Senate this session, despite a recent effort by Democratic leadership to force a vote ahead of a legislative deadline.
What the now-signed measure will do is permanently correct a legislative drafting problem that emerged after state lawmakers sought to align Minnesota’s hemp policy with that of the federal government, which legalized the crop as part of the 2018 Farm Bill.
It will make it so all hemp-derived cannabinoids including CBD could be legally sold in food items, beverages, topicals and more—as long as the products contain less than the federal limit of 0.3 percent THC. Edible and beverage
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