The Hemp Debacle Because Of The 2018 Farm Bill

In the Farm Bill from 2018, any cannabis grown with less than 0.3% by dry weight volume THC is considered legally hemp and completely descheduled.

The exact definition is here from congress.gov --

"The 2018 Farm Bill defines hemp as any part of the cannabis plant or its derivatives containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC) on a dry-weight basis. Delta-9 THC is a cannabinoid, a chemical compound produced by cannabis."

Now we have lawmakers at all levels working against this issue, with a lot playing "catch up." Some wanting it to stay status quo, while some want to incorporate it into the cannabis sector, and some also want to ban it completely, effectively shutting down more than just the hemp-derived THC items.

What the Farm Bill of 2018 has done for the cannabis industry is prove that the demand is there, and it's impossible for states and even the federal government to ignore when it comes to the economic benefits from it if it's regulated correctly, taxed fairly, and easily distributed throughout the country.

Iowa took a good stance when it comes to hemp legalization. They chose not to ban it completely and allowed low-dose gummies and drinks, which is kind of weird on the gummies part, as the medical program doesn't include gummies at all. They, however, did not ban it outright like some other states did.

If we look at what happened in Texas with Governor Greg Abbott refusing to sign off on a complete ban, we see the truth behind the views of even conservatives when it comes to cannabis itself. His view was very respectable on this topic when it comes to regulation, age gating, testing, as well as enforcement and strict penalties.

It's time to adapt to the times and allow adults to be adults and make their own choices.

To the adults letting their children get ahold of these products and consuming massive amounts of THC. Children have access to much worse items that aren't outlawed. If we banned items based upon the potential harm they could cause our children, we would ban half of the chemicals underneath our sinks. Before anyone says this is different, it's weed and is socially acceptable to ingest. I raise the Tide Pod incident.

It's time to stop the hypocrisy. It's time for real change.

-Scott Petheram

Edited for grammar only by ChatGPT (no formatting or structural changes made).