The Government Is Re Opened, As Well As Hemp Banned

The government was reopened recently, and they also banned hemp. It's first important to note this does not take effect for 365 days after signed.  The following is speculative, and my personal take on this.  I do believe there was a grace period for many reasons, as it's known how booming the industry is.  We'll get back to that.

First off I need to say I'm not a doctor, or politically inclined in the least.  Just an average American with very vocal views.  I think the way the government shutdowns are handled in general (not just this years) are terrible.  We should not stop funding to any program just because we do not agree on a new spending bill.  If taxes are being paid, wages should continue to be paid, social programs funded and the citizens not effected in any way.  I think spending bills are necessary to continue to fund things that are necessary and remove funding for programs deemed obsolete, or unnecessary in current times.

I do, however, think the way the hemp ban was implemented is a snake-y way to do this.  Let me set the scenario that played out for you. 

First off, a couple things:

• Military was not funded - by default.  The President found ways to continue to pay them. (I commend him for this)  I find the fact that our military is not funded as a matter of national security.
• SNAP was not funded - I also find this a matter of national security, as food stability is necessary to keep people from resorting to stealing products, causing violence in reaction amongst other things. (No I'm not saying anyone acted violently or that they should.  I'm just saying for an extended period of time, it would likely result in this.)
• Federal monuments, parks and other tourist locations that generate revenue for the country get shut down, lose some services, or have limited services available.  I think this cuts into the economy in a negative way.
• Air traffic controllers working without pay, this is a massive issue due to demoralization of the air traffic controllers themselves and added stress of worrying about paying bills and feeding their families etc.  I think this is another national security issue due to the nature of what they do, keep our skies safe and reduce the odds of accidents mid-flight drastically.  Without them if flights were still allowed, just imagine how insanely dangerous that would be.  When they aren't paid, less people show up to work, inheritly making it more dangerous.  I'm not saying that flights would continue without them, which is another topic... Just trying to get people to think about the impacts this truly has.
• Many employee's went without paychecks.

Now, that list is not exhaustive, and if I didn't mention you or your issues specifically, I do apologize, as I know other programs and people were effected by the shutdown.

So, with that being said, I think the way that hemp was banned is terrible.  It was passed in a Farm Bill and thusly, I think it should be changed in a farm bill, or via a brand new bill that passes all the checks and balances along the way.  Both houses and being signed by the president.  This also creates transparency by nature since we know who votes what way, so we can actually make changes to those in office by voting out the ones who don't align with our views.  The pressure was used to pass something that effects millions of people around the country.  Especially if it truly does do away with federal legalization of CBD by nature.

The hemp legalization created what some consider a loophole.  The thing is, by definition it legalized the products we currently see on shelves because otherwise these places would be raided and prosecuted, point blank, especially if selling to children.  I have no problems with age gating it as I think the age to purchase and possess should be 25, not only 21, as that's when the brain is closer to being done developing (with current knowledge we have).  Even if it's a "loophole", how many tax "loopholes" are there for the rich to exploit and save millions of dollars?  Yet, a loophole for American's to make their own choice to purchase a plant derived product is so important it's tied into the government shut down?  I find that attrocious.

Now, I think I should note I think a bit of good can come from this.  At the end of the day it's politics.  With a 365 day grace period I think we could see some real change.  I think it sets up the framework for real discussion around this topic as the hemp bill created access to millions of Americans who did not have it in the past.  This will have a cascading effect in some way I do believe, and I believe it will be beneficial once all is said and done.  I do however, think this hemp ban will somewhat stick, but I do believe we will see some movement in the cannabis space.

I think within the next 365 days (as of the date president signed to re open the government November 12, 2025.) We will see things like bills introduced, discussed, debated and amended, making it further than it has before in the past.  We have bipartisan support for this kind of stuff, at least medical.  That's a start.  I think we will see rescheduling by the midterms, which signals medical use is applicable, and also gives some hope to those that use, and worry about the stigma attached to it.  This will (if it happens) legitimize the plant, and allow further discussion.

I worry about one thing, with President Donald Trump having made the comment about having an answer on rescheduling "in a few weeks", now being over months ago with nothing in response to that is a bit telling, and a bit concerning.  As well as the now DEA head saying he would work on the current rescheduling process at the DEA, with no further movement.  I do think there is a possibility this could also lead to a massive crackdown on state run facilities.  I think the chances are small, but there.  A majority of Americans support legalization for recreational cannabis, and a super majority support medical, I think that's telling, and will have a massive impact.  The reason I worry about a crackdown on state run facilities is the current political landscape when it comes to drugs in general, with which cannabis gets lumped into due to it's current schedule on the CSA (Schedule 1).  I must note, that there was an ICE raid at a cannabis facility in California, with which I don't remember if they seized the product, which is a good sign as ICE is a federal agency, enforcing federal law.

However; if and when rescheduling happens, I think there will be a cascading effect when it comes to cannabis as a whole.  Legalization will happen in more states for recreational, medical will probably hit all 50 states + our other territories... I think also, if we reschedule we will see other countries follow suit.

I hope we see some good changes in the future, and personally, I think we will.  

-Scott Petheram