US Senator Wyden Introduces Legislation to Clean Up Hemp Market, Keep Products Out of Kids’ Hands

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Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act (CSRA) to establish national standards to protect public health and safety and keep cannabis products out of the hands of children.

The CSRA would establish a national age restriction to prevent those under 21 from purchasing hemp-derived cannabis products. The legislation would require that all hemp-derived products are tested for safety and are manufactured using clean and safe processes. The CSRA would require truth in labeling, and would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recall or ban any cannabis products with dangerous chemicals or additives.

Just like the tobacco industry marketing cigarettes to young people, nobody should be slapping fun cartoons and glitzy candy wrapper packaging on cannabis products meant for adults,” Wyden said. “A federal floor for regulation of hemp products is non-negotiable wyto ensure that consumers aren’t put at risk by untested products of unknown origin. My legislation will ensure that adult consumers know what they’re getting, and that hemp products are never sold or marketed to children.”

Unsafe, unregulated cannabis products have flooded the market since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized U.S. hemp production. Without FDA regulation on manufacturing, packaging, labeling and age-gating hemp-derived products, there has been a massive increase in producing and selling hemp products that imitate candy or kids’ snacks, contain dangerous chemicals or additives, or are untruthfully labeled. Despite some states’ efforts to implement their own testing, labeling, and processing standards, a federal regulatory floor is crucial to address regulatory gaps between states. The CSRA would explicitly allow states to prohibit, limit or otherwise regulate hemp-derived products beyond the bill’s provisions.

The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.

The CRSA is endorsed by the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, the National Cannabis Industry Association, National Industrial Hemp Council, and hemp industry associations from California, Colorado, Arizona, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, Virginia, and Texas.

“The hemp industry is united behind a simple, common-sense proposition: Hemp products should be robustly regulated, not the subject of a misguided prohibition. Senator Wyden’s critical legislation does just that: imposing strong health and safety standards for hemp products while ensuring that they are kept out of the hands of minors. Along with dozens of other hemp organizations, the US Hemp Roundtable endorses this bill as we stand up and cheer for Senator Wyden’s continued stewardship and leadership, and as we look forward to continuing to work closely with him as this bill progresses and transforms over the next several months,” said Jonathan Miller, General Counsel at U.S. Hemp Roundtable.

“For too long, federal inaction has fostered an unregulated marketplace for hemp THC products, endangering the public and creating unfair competition for regulated cannabis businesses. We look forward to working with Senator Wyden to pass the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act because it solves this problem by implementing commonsense safeguards to ensure intoxicating hemp products are tested, properly labeled, and not made available to minors while creating a pathway for manufacturers to provide safe hemp products to adults through a regulated framework,” said Aaron Smith, CEO at the National Cannabis Industry Association.

The bill text is here. The one-pager is here. The section-by-section is here.

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The bill has been assigned S.5243 — 118th Congress (2023-2024) and labeled the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act.

118th CONGRESS session convened in Washington, D.C., on January 3, 2023, and will end on January 3, 2025, during the third and fourth years of President Joe Biden’s term in office.

The Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Network is discussing the bill language with stakeholders in Wisconsin. It seems highly unlikely this legislation would pass, but the Wisconsin Hemp Industry has expressed some concerns with specific language in portions of the bill.

The feedback has also been to concentrate back on the federal farm bill which is already expired and must be addressed by US Congress yet in 2024. We need congress to oppose the 2024 Farm Bill unless the “Miller Amendment” is removed. This amendment would certainly kill the US hemp industry.

If consumers or industry stakeholders have additional comments, please do not hesitate to email us at WiscoCan@gmail.com with your questions, comments or concerns.

The amendment would seek to federally ban all ingestible hemp products with any amount of quantifiable THC in them. Nearly 90-95% of hemp products currently on the market have a trace amount of THC in them – including a significant majority of non-intoxicating CBD products.

A new definition of hemp within the amendments also negatively impact the seed/grain and fiber industry in Wisconsin.

The election in November did not impact any of our Congressional or US Senate offices and their staff is eagerly awaiting your email or phone call.

farm bill should help not hurt farmers
The farm bill should help not hurt farmers!

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