In the United States, hemp was federally legalized in 2018 and defined statutorily as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol [delta-9 THC] concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis”
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the federal schedule of controlled substances and placed regulatory authority for hemp under the USDA and the FDA. USDA issued its final rule in 2021, but the FDA has yet to issue clear guidance, and the DEA is still seeking to assert authority over industrial hemp by-products.
The remarkable potential of hemp is only just being explored, after nearly a century of prohibition. Lack of farming knowledge, processing technologies, infrastructure, and regulatory certainty all create distinct challenges for the hemp industry in the United States. Canada, China, and European countries that ended hemp prohibition sooner have gained a head start in the global hemp marketplace.
Regional hemp agronomy studies, varietal trials, industry white papers, educational webinars, and more..