The House of Representatives in the US has passed a spending bill that includes a proposal to delay a proposed ban on hemp THC products to December.
Last month, the Senate approved a one-month delay to introducing federal restrictions on sales of THC goods, including drinks.
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The measure, revealed earlier in August by leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee, keeps federal agencies funded through to 11 December, beyond the 30 September close of the current fiscal year.
It also pushes back the pending restrictions planned on hemp products to 11 December from the original deadline of 12 November.
In a statement yesterday (1 September), US Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar confirmed the House had passed the bill, which delays the upcoming restrictions on sales of THC goods by a month, and also “bans synthetic hemp derivatives”.
The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk for signing.
Last year, a funding bill was passed by the US Congress that tightened the legal definition of hemp.
As part of those plans, sales would be prohibited for “hemp-derived cannabinoid products” containing more than 0.3% THC, as well as any “final” hemp-based cannabinoid products with more than 0.4mg of THC per container.
The measure would also ban “any other cannabinoids that have similar effects (or are marketed to have similar effects)”.
The US Hemp Roundtable has warned the clause in the funding bill could remove more than 95% of hemp-extracted products from the market.
Responding to the news, the hemp industry association said: “This extension is not the finish line. It is an opportunity. We intend to use every day between now and December to advance a regulatory framework that protects consumers, prevents youth access to intoxicating products, and supports a thriving hemp industry.”
Christopher Lackner, the founder and president of the Hemp Beverage Alliance, added his association “commends the House of Representatives for providing more time to create a regulatory framework for the hemp beverage industry”.
Last month, US lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill that looks to regulate THC drinks in a similar way to alcohol.
The Beverage Regulatory Parity Act, introduced by US representatives Beth Van Duyne and Greg Landsman would exempt THC drinks from the ban on THC products due to come into force later this year.
