The 'Show Me State' is the latest example of just how convoluted and confusing the witch hunt to eradicate hemp-derived intoxicants across the country has become. The Civil War continuing to rage between hemp and cannabis interests has reached the hearty and supposedly no-nonsense state of Missouri. According to multiple local and national media outlets, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) opened an investigation into four businesses as part of a crackdown on items containing intoxicating hemp derivatives (IHDs) last Wednesday. Similar to other states, the effort in Missouri center ..read more

As one of only a handful of states that does not have any form of medicinal cannabis, the Palmetto State is once again attempting to enact a highly restrictive and limited medical marijuana measure. It has been almost 30 years since California enacted the country’s first medical marijuana law in 1996. Since then, 39 other states have passed similar measures, and 25, including California, have installed adult-use cannabis laws enabling millions of Americans to enjoy the recreational benefits afforded by the ancient plant. However, not all states are created equal. Some, like this author’s h ..read more

With the growing uncertainty surrounding major hemp byproducts like CBD, many growers are pivoting to supply their crop yields to other industries. One of the primary reasons for hemp’s long and successful history is its wide-ranging versatility. Although the plant and its sister crop, cannabis, are most associated with uses related to health, wellness, and psychoactive recreation, historically, the hemp plant has been used for much more practical purposes, such as providing canvas sails for ships, paper, clothing, and food. When Congress relegalized hemp by passing the 2018 Farm Bill, the ..read more

The new bill should help state cannabis officials and prospective businesses meet the Spring 2025 deadline for launching the regulated adult-use marijuana sector. Springtime is celebrated as a period of rebirth and new beginnings, as the cold and dark winter months give way to longer days, warmer temperatures, and the emergence of new life, both in plant and animal forms.  However, for advocates and supporters of the American cannabis industry, this time of year, in particular the date of April 20, serves as a period of celebration for those who love cannabis. In honor of the "4/20" m ..read more

A new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows a significant increase in the value of industrial hemp in 2023. Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp and all of its downstream derivative products and uses, the plant has experienced a veritable roller coaster of incredible highs and devastating lows. Early on, farmers, hemp byproduct manufacturers, and retailers enjoyed astonishing success, particularly in the extremely popular and lucrative CBD market. However, following the end of the COVID-19 lockdowns, the entire industry endured a catastrophic decline ..read more

With the state Supreme Court's recent ruling that the ballot reform measure can appear on the election ballot this year, there is serious concern that all that effort may have been in vain. The back-and-forth battle between supporters of legal adult-use cannabis and those opposed to establishing a recreational marijuana market in Florida continues to play out following a ruling by the state's Supreme Court earlier this month allowing a controversial ballot initiative, making legal adult-use cannabis a permanent part of the Florida Constitution, to appear on this coming November's ballo ..read more

The new guidelines, which go into effect for the 2025 cultivation season, will help current growers and encourage new investment in the industry. America is not the only country committed to the success and expansion of the hemp plant. European nations, like Ukraine, Germany, and Sweden, are currently using hemp to develop eco-friendly construction projects for residential and commercial projects. Similarly, the United Kingdom has also begun dedicating resources, new laws, and agricultural incentives to expand its commitment to hemp and its myriad downstream uses and applications. As first ..read more

As more and more states levy harsh restrictions and bans on the much-maligned intoxicating hemp derivative (IHD) market, Texas is taking a far different approach. In a world seemingly more divided on every issue imaginable, the small but vibrant world of hemp and its downstream derivative products is an outlier worth examining for its players’ resiliency and adaptability to adversity and change. A perfect case in point is the enigmatic and larger-than-life state of Texas. With hemp under fire for its intoxicating derivatives, like delta-8 THC, by a growing number of states, the conservativ ..read more

The new study reveals an alarming percentage of hemp flower products with THC levels far above the legal limit set forth by the 2018 Farm Bill. The crackdown on hemp-derived products containing illegal amounts of THC continues in states where there are no legal and regulated cannabis markets, medicinal or recreational. One particular area of focus for state health officials and law enforcement agencies centers on smokable hemp flower, most notably those containing the controversial and misunderstood THC-A cannabinoid. According to numerous media outlets, a new comprehensive analysis of smo ..read more

The project developers hope the pilot program can serve as a template for the future of eco-friendly, community-based living in Britain and beyond. While much of the recent news surrounding hemp has centered on issues related to the plant's medicinal and psychoactive attributes, there is an entire hemp-related industry focused on using the versatile plant as an environmentally beneficial and sustainable building material as well. From 'hempcrete' to bioplastics, industrial hemp could be the future of construction for a world in desperate need of materials that reduce or eliminate the massiv ..read more