On August 27, 2019, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (“RMA”) announced that it will provide crop insurance for industrial hemp beginning in the 2020 crop year. Insurance coverage will be provided under the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (“WFRP”) program for hemp producers
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Hemp
Ninth Circuit Abstains From Case Involving Interstate Shipment of Hemp
By Kristi Wolff & Lee Baumgardner on
On September 4, 2019, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the lower court should have abstained from ruling in Big Sky Scientific LLC v. Idaho State Police and determined that Idaho state court provides a satisfactory venue for…
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DEA Announces Intent to Issue New Regulations for Marijuana Growers Program
By Kristi Wolff & Lee Baumgardner on
On August 27, 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) issued a Federal Notice stating its intent to issue new regulations for its marijuana growers program for scientific and medical research. The adjustments to its policies and practices will include a…
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Credit Unions Lending to Hemp-Related Businesses is Permissible
By Kristi Wolff & Lee Baumgardner on
Posted in Hemp, Regulation
On August 19, 2019, the National Credit Union Administration (“NCUA”) made an economically significant change to the hemp banking landscape. As is the case with cannabis businesses generally, hemp operations have faced considerable limitations with respect to access to traditional…
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New Jersey Gives Green Light to Industrial Hemp Program
By Kristi Wolff & Lee Baumgardner on
On August 9, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law Assembly Bill 5322, establishing the state’s program for cultivation, handling, processing, transport, and sale of hemp. The bill also repeals the New Jersey Industrial Hemp Pilot Program, which was passed…
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Court Rules Indian Tribe Cannot Regulate Hemp Production (Yet)
By Kristi Wolff & Bez Stern on
As we’ve written about several times, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp but specified that it must be done pursuant to a state or tribal plan, known as a 279B plan. Such a plan is not effective until approved…
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USDA Legal Opinion Seeks To Clarify Interstate Transport of Hemp
By Kristi Wolff & Bez Stern on
On May 28, 2019, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (“USDA”) Office of the General Counsel issued a Legal Opinion, which attempts to address open questions relating to interstate transport of hemp. While the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp production,…
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California Bill to Allow Hemp-Derived CBD in Foods, Beverages, and Cosmetics
By Kristi Wolff & Lee Baumgardner on
Assembly Bill 228 is a promising piece of legislation that could soon bring an end to California’s prohibition on adding hemp-derived CBD to foods, beverages, and cosmetics. The bill, in its current form, would add two provisions to the California…
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TTB Updates Guidance on Hemp Ingredients, Follows FDA’s Lead
By Kristi Wolff on
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (“TTB”) recently updated its guidance on inclusion of hemp ingredients in beverages containing alcohol. Here’s a summary:
- It remains TTB’s policy that it will not approve any formulas for alcohol beverages that