On Wednesday, September 25, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced his “Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act (CSRA).” This legislation is aimed at protecting all aspects of the domestic hemp supply chain, from farmers to consumers. It establishes a federal regulatory framework for the provision of hemp and hemp-derived products and uses a sensible approach for regulation centered on four pillars of: restricting youth access, standardizing packaging and labeling, as well as increasing quality control standards.
Senator Wyden’s CSRA envisions the FDA taking the helm of regulating hemp-derived products, and with support from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and USDA. And while this Bill might not pass before the adjournment of the 118th Congress at the end of 2024, it could portend a shift in the federal approach to regulating hemp-derived cannabinoids in the future.
The same could be said for another hemp-related Bill that was offered last week in the Senate. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), on September 26, 2024, offered his “Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan (HEMP) Act.” This legislation creates transparency by defining a margin of error in hemp testing, and it also amends the definition of “hemp” from 0.3 percent THC to 1 percent THC.
Paul’s HEMP Act mandates testing for hemp-derived products rather than the flower or plant itself, and the Act requires all hemp shipments be accompanied by one of two easily accessible types of documentation.
Senators Wyden and Paul have long been advocates for hemp on the federal level, but it remains to be seen whether either of these Acts gain any traction during the remainder of the 118th Congress. Hopefully, however, their willingness to respond to the hemp industry’s cries for sensible regulations is not discouraged in the 119th Congress.
