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Examining regulatory changes to hemp cultivation in state

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3 months ago

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Over the decades, the legality of hemp cultivation in the United States has undergone some changes. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act made the cultivation of hemp completely illegal, along with the definition of “hemp” as “marijuana.” This criminalized approach to hemp changed with the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp from the definition of “marijuana” and allowed states to create their own hemp regulation programs. In the past year, there has been a change in hemp cultivation regulations at the state level, as well as a change in the federal legal definition of “hemp.” Both of these changes will likely affect hemp growers.

After passing the 2018 Farm Bill, the state of Ohio, through the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), submitted its plan to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to regulate the cultivation and processing of hemp. In the spring of 2020, the ODA began accepting applications for the cultivation and processing of hemp.

as was shared in a blog post last summer, language included in the state operating budget passed in June 2025 gave up ODA’s authority to regulate hemp cultivation in the state. On July 25, 2025, the ODA began the process of transferring hemp cultivation regulation to the USDA. As of January 1, 2026, if you are growing hemp in Ohio, you must be licensed through the USDA, and all ODA cultivation licenses are revoked. The ODA continues to regulate hemp processors. ODA has a web page explaining these changes which is available here. For further reading, the state operating budget, HB 96, is available here.

Federal changes to the legal definition of “hemp.”
When hemp cultivation was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill, Congress defined “hemp” as “Cannabis sativa L. plant and any part of that plant, including seeds and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether or not grown, with a deltabin (THC)-9 tetrabin (THC)-9 tetrabin concentration in excess of 0.3 percent dry weight.” After passing the 2018 Farm Bill, however, Congress discovered that this definition of “hemp” created an unintended loophole. Although delta-9 THC is the main psychoactive compound found in both hemp and marijuana that can cause intoxication, it is not the only compound. Since legalization, hemp products have been sold that contain no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC, but contain other cannabinoids, such as delta-8 THC, that can cause intoxication if ingested.

To close this loophole to allow for intoxicating hemp products, Congress changed the definition of hemp in HR 5371, which became law on November 12, 2025. The federal definition of hemp is now “Cannabis sativa L. plant and any part of that plant, including its seeds and all derivatives, extracts, isomers, isomers, isomers, acids, salts, isomers, acids, salts, isomers and acids. Whether or not growing, with a total (THC) concentration (including tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA)) of more than 0.3 percent by dry weight.” As a result, instead of regulating only the amount of delta-9 THC, federal law now regulates the total THC concentration of hemp and its components. Thus, growers with hemp plants with a total THC concentration of more than 0.3 percent would be in violation of federal law. Importantly, this definition also applies to industrial hemp, or “hemp grown for use as seed stalk, whole grain, oil, cake, nut, hull, or any other non-cannabinoid derivative.” The new definition of hemp will go into effect one year after the law is signed, on November 12, 2026. The text of HR 5371 is available. here.

Source: The Ohio State University

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Columbia hemp business Burning Acre to close and move to North Carolina over new Tennessee rules

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9 hours ago

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June 14, 2026

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Burning Acre, a Columbia, Tennessee-based hemp company, says it will close its retail store and move operations to North Carolina ahead of new state regulations that take effect July 1, according to WSMV.

The business says its last day to open in Columbia will be June 30, the same day the Tennessee Department of Agriculture licenses for hemp-derived cannabinoids expire. As of July 1, businesses that continue to operate in the state will be required to be licensed under a new regulatory framework led by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Burning Acre says the changes have forced it to abandon plans for a new sandwich shop and bakery and close its Tennessee retail operations and relocate to Murphy, North Carolina. “I won’t sugarcoat it, it’s a very hard video for me and a message I should never have written,” the business wrote.

The business puts the annual cost of manufacturing, distribution and running the retail store at about $750. Under the new rules, he says, those costs would rise by tens of thousands of dollars, citing new licensing fees, a required $25,000 annual bond and increased testing fees.

The law, which took effect in July, changes the regulation of hemp-derived cannabinoid businesses from the Department of Agriculture to the ABC. The Department of Agriculture stopped issuing licenses at the end of 2025, and the licenses issued by the TDA will remain valid until June 30, 2026.

“Columbia, we absolutely love being a part of this community,” said Burning Acre. “We are truly heartbroken to have to say goodbye to this location.”

Read more at WSMV4










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North Carolina Lawmakers Advance Bill To Set A Minimum Age Limit For Hemp And Kratom Products

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9 hours ago

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June 14, 2026

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“Many other details about cannabis have been debated and will continue to be debated.”

By Christine Zhu, NC Newsline

Lawmakers in North Carolina are considering banning people under 21 from buying or possessing certain hemp-derived consumables, including combustible hemp flower, hemp cigarettes, gummies and drinks, or items that include the drug kratom.

The House Agriculture and Environment Committee approved a rewrite of Senate Bill 59 on Wednesday. This is the latest attempt by state legislators after years of proposals to regulate the sale of hemp products that didn’t work out in the end.

This measure would prohibit companies from selling such products to under-21s. If the seller has “reasonable grounds” to believe that the buyer is under the age of 21, the seller must verify the buyer’s ID.

Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin), who introduced the bill, said he was motivated to bring public attention to issues surrounding cannabis. He said there was a 14-year-old boy in his neighborhood who had an emergency after buying a hemp-derived product.

“There are a lot of other details about cannabis that have been debated and will continue to be debated, but ladies and gentlemen, to make sure we have the good sense to be agents of these kinds of issues, that’s the lowest hanging fruit,” he said.

Violators would face a Class 2 felony, as well as a fine of $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second offense and $1,500 for subsequent offenses.

asked Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford). of the bill language resulted in potential changes to hemp-derived products. It is common for manufacturers of synthetic recreational drugs to make changes to the chemical composition of their products to avoid legal bans or restrictions.

“I assume the definition as written is broad enough to capture any future manipulation of molecules,” he said. Dixon nodded.

Legislators also voted in favor correction To add kratom products to the under-21 ban.

Rep. Jeffrey McNeely (R-Iredell), who proposed the amendment, said it was necessary to add those elements to the bill.

“I’ve been working on this for quite some time, trying to get these bills passed,” McNeely said. “We definitely have a problem. So I’m hoping we can keep posting this and we’ll get something done before we get out of the short session here.”

Both the amendment and the legislation passed unanimously without debate.

The bill moves next to the House Rules Committee. Other amendments will be heard when they appear on the House floor, which could be as soon as next week.

This story was first published by NC Newsline.

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GreenTech Amsterdam 2026 in 2026 photos

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1 day ago

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June 13, 2026

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Well, it’s not 2026 photos, but with around 600 photos, we definitely did our best. For the past two days, the Netherlands has been the place to be for the global greenhouse industry. From Flower Trials for the horticulture sector, company visits to growers and technical suppliers, as well as dinners, get-togethers, drinks, knowledge sessions and much more. And of course with GreenTech Amsterdam.

The event brought together professionals from around the world to connect, network, share knowledge and do business.

Next week, we’ll be sharing more information on market developments, trends, what’s on display, news, business news, innovations and whatever else you can think of, but for now we’ll stick to photo reporting.

Click here for the photo report.

© Arlette Sijmonsma | MMJDaily.com










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