GOP Senators wants the USDA to delay hemp rules

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The lawmakers want more input from the hemp industry

A countrywide rule set to regulate the hemp industry has been in the works for several months and the main concern is that some of the policies listed are quite restrictive. That is the reason why Republican Senator Cory Gardner, along with several other colleagues, is asking the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to delay the implementation of the proposed hemp rules. In a letter sent to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Tuesday, the senator urges the department to postpone the implementation of the final rule until stakeholders and state regulators can be consulted “to ensure workable rules that allow the industry to thrive.”

“The United States is now poised to transition from being a world-leading hemp importer to a world-leading hemp producer,” Gardner wrote. “I have worked with my colleagues and state officials to share with the USDA Colorado’s hemp experience, encourage greater flexibility for farmers, and encourage innovation of the industry.”

It wasn’t specified in the letter which regulations he considered to be inflexible and problematic; however, representatives of the industry have expressed concern about the strict requirement for lab testing and disposal of the crop with excess tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The labs used need to be registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the crop can’t contain more than 3% of THC, or it has to be disposed of.

This is not the first attempt that is being made to prevent these rules from being implemented. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote to Perdue earlier this month asking him to delay the issuing of the final regulations for hemp until 2022 so states are allowed to continue operations based on the provisions listed on the 2014 Farm Bill pilot program until then. This pilot program expires on October 31, so many sources are asking authorities in charge to grant an extension on the expiration date.