With the hemp industry facing a federal crackdown, Pennsylvania lawmakers are rushing to establish regulations. They’re currently weighing proposals that would both sell THC drinks in beer stores and regulate THC products alongside medical cannabis, writes Henry Savage for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
State Rep. Steven Malagari plans on introducing a bill that would regulate THC drinks and allow their sale in beer stores.
Meanwhile, State Sen. Dan Laughlin, a major proponent of marijuana legalization, is working on legislation that would enable hemp-derived THC to be regulated like medical marijuana.
The bill would establish a Cannabis Control Board to determine which hemp products are safe for consumers.
Pennsylvania’s strong hemp industry has high hopes for these efforts, but with time running out, stakeholders are urging swift action.
At the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January, leaders from the hemp, medical marijuana, and beer wholesale industries urged state regulators to protect hemp ahead of the Nov. 12 deadline that would classify all intoxicating hemp products, including Delta-9 THC and CBD, as illegal.
Since those compounds drive most of Pennsylvania’s hemp production, the proposed rules could force many farmers out of business by fall.
Read more about how PA lawmakers are rushing to establish regulations for THC products in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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