The CRS Weighs In On Pending Hemp Rule Changes

The Congressional Research Service (CRS), which was created in 1914 and renamed in 1970, was a part of the Library of Congress. Its mission is to serve Congress with research and analysis. CRS employs about 600 and has five divisions for research, including American Law, Domestic Social Policy, Foreign Affairs, Government and Finance and Science and Industry.

On 12/03, it issued a piece on the new law for hemp products that was passed when the government voted to reopen and that goes into effect next November, as I recently discussed here when the law was signed. Change to Federal Definition of Hemp and Implications for Federal Enforcement does a good job of explaining this situation.

This report discussed hemp as cannabis before 2018, the changes that took place in with the Farm Act of 2018, how the hemp cannabinoid market evolved subsequently and how hemp has been redefined. The final part of the report discusses policy implications for the hemp industry and law enforcement and raises an issue that I have not discussed here: "Both FDA and DEA may lack the resources to broadly enforce the laws prohibiting intoxicating hemp products on the market."

There are many who think the law will be changed, leaving status quo, and others who think that this will be fixed with a federal regulatory system that has been lacking and which is needed. Of course, the law may just stay in effect, wiping out a lot of products and hurting retailers and manufacturers.

Kudos to the three authors for their attempt to educate Congress on this topic! It remains to be seen whether or not the law will kick in as it stands or to be changed. I am hopeful that a federal regulatory system for hemp products will be implemented, but hemp growers, hemp product manufacturers, hemp product retailers, investors and consumers should not expect this.