US Hemp Roundtable : Updates in Seven States: Texas, Alaska, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Ohio | Cannabis Law Report | How to order Skittles Moonrock online

Updates in Seven States: Texas, Alaska, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Ohio

Take Action Now: Use our State Action Center to contact lawmakers and protect the future of hemp in your state.

A big thank you to all hemp supporters for taking action. Be sure to follow us across social media and share these important action alerts with your friends!

Urgent action is needed in Texas, where SB 3, a full ban on hemp products, was passed by the legislature and is now awaiting Governor Abbott’s signature.  If signed, this bill will decimate the hemp industry in Texas. To date, thousands of emails have been sent by Hemp Supporters to Governor Abbott asking him to veto the bill.  Please use our State Action Center to add your voice to our urgent request to Governor Abbott for a veto.

In Alaska, a federal court has dismissed a 2023 lawsuit brought by the Alaska Industrial Hemp Association over amended regulations that barred in-state sales of intoxicating hemp cannabinoids.  The Association argued that regulations were unconstitutional because they conflicted with federal hemp laws and violated the Commerce Clause by putting Alaskan hemp businesses at a disadvantage.  The court indicated that the 2018 Farm Bill “does not preempt more stringent state laws governing hemp products” and that the Association did not show that the regulations were burdensome to interstate commerce.”

In Louisiana, HB 187 and HB 235, which would have dramatically increased the tax on the sale of hemp products, were killed last week in committee. Congratulations to the Hemp Association of Louisiana and the advocates involved in this important win! Attention now turns to HB 12, which creates the crime of selling consumable hemp products to a person under the age of 21, the crime of purchasing or possessing of consumable hemp products by a person under the age of 21, and the crime of producing consumable hemp products without a permit.  Intent to sell, manufacture, product, or distribute consumable products would also be prosecuted criminally. If passed, violations of this law would be punishable by fines or jail time. Hemp Supporters are working tirelessly to amend this bill in Senate committee.

Maine’s LD1983/SP783 would prohibit the sale of intoxicating hemp products by liquor licensees and impose a 20% sales tax on hemp products sold wholesale or to consumers.  The bill also mandates that hemp products be regulated as cannabis products.  Please use our State Action Center to urge lawmakers to oppose this bill.

Some very good news in Massachusetts, a new bill, H4160, would establish a clear statewide regulatory framework for hemp-derived products. The legislation creates a pathway for the legal sale of hemp-derived THC beverages through licensed retail channels while protecting continued access to non-intoxicating wellness products like CBD topicals and supplements.  The bill places oversight with the Cannabis Control Commission but draws a sharp line between hemp and marijuana. It avoids unnecessary burdens by tailoring rules to product type, potency, and use. It includes licensing, labeling, and testing standards to ensure safety while preventing abuse of intoxicating compounds in general retail.  Please use our State Action Center to urge lawmakers to support this bill.

It seems like we’ve scored a Big Win in Nebraska! As we prepare this email, we’ve heard from our friends in Lincoln that LD 316 died today. We will confirm, and report on this again next week, but for now we have our fingers crossed ! LD 316 would have set the limit of total THC in hemp products at 0.3%. The bill would have also limited packages of consumable hemp products to 10mg THC per package and would levy an additional 10% sales tax on any items that remain legally sellable, mostly fibers and textiles. Cannabinoids created through chemical conversion, modification, or synthesis would have be banned.

In Ohio, SB 56 is moving quickly through the legislature.  The bill would require that nearly all hemp products be sold in marijuana dispensaries.  Any product over .5 mg THC per serving or 2 mg total THC would have to be sold at the dispensaries.  Under current law, hemp beverages with less than .42 mg THC per ounce can be sold at retail locations permitted to sell beer and wine, but restaurants can only sell them for take-out. The proposed language in the bill would prohibit consumption at all retail locations, including bars and restaurants.  Please use our State Action Center to urge lawmakers to oppose this hemp-killing bill.