It was a big week for CBD, with two different US Senate committees considering bills that would be game-changers for the whole cannabis industry.
First, Wednesday saw the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry vote on the 2018 Farm Bill, which contains a provision to legalize hemp. But there was drama when Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa filed an amendment to the bill that would have undermined that provision.
Ultimately, the committee passed the bill without the Grassley amendment, although it could be subject to additional amendments now that it is out of the committee’s hands. The full Senate is expected to vote on the 2018 Farm Bill by July 4.
Just one day later, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would protect legal medical cannabis operations. The Hill reports:
The language, which was part of the Senate commerce, justice and science appropriations bill, would block the Justice Department from targeting either users or providers of medical cannabis in states where the practice is legal.
Despite all of this hemp-friendly momentum at the national level, things are still dicey for CBD in some states.
Madison, Wisconsin’s News 3 reported that when they contacted law enforcement agencies in three different counties to ask whether it’s legal to sell CBD in the state, all three said something different. Still, some Wisconsin retailers are taking a chance on products that are made from industrial hemp.
Attention soccer fans: The 2018 FIFA World Cup began on Thursday, and CBD has been removed from the banned substance list for the first time. There shall be no entourage effect for the footballers, though—a blanket ban on all other cannabinoids remains in force, leaving CBD isolate products as their only option.
In a column in Cannabis Business Times, the Cannabis Certification Council’s Ben Gelt called for the cannabis industry to adopt organic and fair-trade standards.
And finally, looking beyond cannabis, CBD Naturals will be distributing a CBD isolate derived from hops. We’ll be watching for this one to reach the market!
