The Farm Bill: Why Is It Important?
The Farm Bill is legislation that directly affects agriculture and food. Congress renews the bill every five years or so, and it was recently updated in December of 2018. The 2018 Farm Bill included some important changes to the legal status of hemp, which directly affects the CBD industry. Read on to learn about the Farm Bill history and the changes that have occurred.
Farm Bill History
The first iteration of the Farm Bill was passed during the Great Depression in 1933. It was necessary because the prices of crops were plummeting, and so farmers needed this legislation in order to stay financially viable. Over the years, the Farm Bill has grown to be much more complex.
For example, the bill has made changes to the nutritional requirements of school lunches. It has also implemented protocol on the management of national forests. The bill has also covered how SNAP (food stamp) benefits are given. To put it simply, the Farm Bill plays a major role in the food we eat and how it’s grown and distributed.
Hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill
The latest version of the Farm Bill was unique in that it included new legislation regarding the legality of the cannabis plant. This is significant news because, in 1970, the Controlled Substance Act made the cannabis plant entirely illegal, including the hemp plant. In other words, it didn’t differentiate between marijuana and hemp.
The 2018 version legalized hemp as long as it contains less than 0.3% THC. That means that hemp is legal on a federal level as long as it can’t get you high. This is a big deal, as hemp has been illegal for decades. As an industrial resource, hemp has enormous potential, but it was banned simply because it was a member of the cannabis family.
Previously, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state departments of agriculture did allow hemp to be grown on a small scale for limited purposes such as research. The Farm Bill that passed in 2018 now allows hemp to be cultivated on a much larger scale. It means that hemp products can be bought, sold, possessed, and transported across state lines.
Provisions
While hemp has been legalized federally, that doesn’t necessarily mean that anyone can start a hemp farm. There are still some restrictions. The big one is that hemp products may not contain more than 0.3% THC. Products with a higher THC concentration would be considered to be marijuana products, and they would only be legal where marijuana is legal.
Additionally, in order to proceed with any sort of hemp operation, it must be approved by the Secretary of USDA. That means that a state’s department of agriculture must present a proposal to the state’s governor and chief law enforcement officer. After it’s approved, it must be sent to the Secretary of USDA for approval.
So, to put it simply, the Farm Bill doesn’t give anyone free reign to start their own hemp growing operation. However, it does put hemp farmers on equal footing with other farmers, which is a big deal. That means that people who are growing hemp for legitimate non-drug purposes don’t have to worry about being arrested or penalized as long as they abide by federal and state laws.
How the Bill Relates to CBD
You may be wondering how The 2018 Farm Bill affects CBD. In short, as long as all the proper guidelines are followed, CBD is legal. CBD products must not contain more than 0.3% THC, and they must be produced by licensed farmers and manufacturers.
While the industry remains largely unregulated, these new laws should help to ensure higher quality products while eliminating those who are selling fake, low-quality, or even dangerous products.
How to Buy Safe and Legal CBD
The Farm Bill is still relatively new, as of February 2019, so it’s difficult to determine exactly how the bill will shape the industry. However, as long as you only buy CBD products from trusted brands, you should have no problem.
A reputable CBD company should be able to provide information such as how and where their hemp is grown and what type of facilities they use to manufacture their products. They should also regularly have their products lab tested by independent parties to ensure quality and purity. If you’re hesitant, just request a certificate of analysis.
Finally, in the CBD community, reputation goes a long way. There are plenty of companies that have proven to be trustworthy, selling consistently safe, quality products.
The Farm Bill really shouldn’t change much for those companies, as they’ve already been abiding by common sense. While laws may make their business operations easier, they won’t affect the actual production of the products themselves.
Trustworthy Companies
Here at CBD Choice, you can rest assured that we only sell CBD products from vetted companies. These are the companies that won’t be significantly affected by the 2018 Farm Bill because they’re already following the law and creating high-quality products with no THC or any other psychoactive ingredients.
If you’re not sure about a brand, do some research. When in doubt, it’s safest to just keep looking.
Shop with Confidence
Now that you better understand the Farm Bill, you can feel more comfortable ordering legal CBD products. Browse our wide range of premium CBD products that are in stock and ready to ship fast. If you have any questions, or if you’d like to request a certificate of analysis, please contact us now. Join the hemp revolution with the world’s finest CBD products today.
