SIOUX FALLS, SD (Dakota News Now) – As lawmakers in Congress largely focus on reopening the government, policies are going unnoticed.
This includes a law that would all but eliminate the hemp industry.
“There's no good way to reduce it; it was bad news for the industry,” said John Peterson, owner of Dakota Hemp.
The $26 billion hemp industry is now in trouble.
“I guess that's what they're proposing; we never thought hemp would ever show up in the bill that would reopen the government on this issue. But part of it was putting in that limit of 0.4 milligrams per container,” Peterson said.
0.4 milligrams essentially bans THC drinks and edibles that contain at least 2 milligrams per container.
“Any ban in the hemp industry could ultimately impact all areas of the hemp industry as well, and we want to see upward growth, particularly in the grain and fiber areas. We know South Dakota farmers will excel here,” Peterson said.
Ken Meyer, board member of the South Dakota Industrial Hemp Association, said the ban would affect over 95% of the hemp industry's products.
“It gives the impression that THC is the bad thing about the plant. THC is a necessary part of the hemp plant. It's just a matter of concentration and proper regulation and the purpose for which the hemp plant is grown,” Meyer said.
Meyer said he hopes the legislation receives more attention before it becomes law.
“The hope would be that people would sit down and say, 'For safety reasons, let's put in place the regulations that everyone is comfortable with, put age limits on some of these products that are intoxicating, and move forward on that basis,'” Meyer said.
He added that he has concerns that lawmakers could be so strict on hemp products and that this could lead to unfortunate banking and insurance complications for the entire industry.
This includes the grain and fiber side of the industry, which Meyer and Peterson primarily grow (Peterson says he grows an acre of CBD hemp, compared to 360 acres of grain or fiber hemp), and also includes non-cannabinoid products such as building materials, plastics and textiles.
The regulations would take effect a year after President Trump signed them, Peterson said. The hearings indicate that the House of Congress is likely to pass the regulation like the Senate.
The House of Representatives voted Wednesday evening to end the shutdown and pass the regulation.
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