Connect with us

Cannabis News

Federal CBD Health Insurance Plan Will Reportedly Allow THC Amount Far Exceeding Hemp Limit Signed By Trump

Published

2 months ago

on

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will soon launch a pilot program Cover the costs of CBD products under certain federal health insurance plans for eligible patients. But the newly announced details of the effort indicate the policy could conflict with a separate law redefining hemp in a way that severely limits the amount of THC allowed.

CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz previously described the CBD coverage plan he is implementing in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in December, which also directs the finalization of a federal rule to reorganize marijuana, saying the plan’s CBD components could be rolled out in April.

But as the agency prepares to offer cannabidiol coverage as part of the pilot program, it has set an initial limit of 3 milligrams of total THC (including delta-8, delta-9 and delta-10 THC, for example) per serving, first as Cannabis Wire. notify—that’s more than seven times the THC limit for hemp-derived cannabinoid products, as defined in the spending bill Trump signed last year.

The cannabis section of that agriculture-based spending bill limits total THC content to 0.4 milligrams per container. And that law, which takes effect in November, will effectively wipe out the market for edible cannabinoids, industry insiders say.

A CMS spokesperson told Cannabis Wire that the agency will “adjust its definition as required by law,” without clarifying how it arrived at the 3-milligram THC limit in the first place.

Bipartisan lawmakers and hemp industry advocates have it He pushed to delay the implementation of new hemp THC restrictions Trump signed it, but these efforts have not gained traction. An amendment on the matter was not accepted in the last House Committee’s markup of a new Farm Bill.

Marijuana Moment reached out to CMS to ask more about the THC policy dispute, but a representative was not immediately available.

The planned pilot program “specifically excludes respirable products,” the spokeswoman also said. And available “orally administered” CBD products would be subject to “state and local laws,” though that raises other questions given the complex patchwork of state-level hemp and cannabinoid policies.

In any case, the newly announced details about the yet-to-be-released rules for the pilot program come weeks after an executive at a hemp company working with CMS said the agency already has them. ended federal health insurance plans for cannabidiol.

“This pilot will help (the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA) move from uncertainty to a practical framework with clear dosing, risk reduction and clear manufacturing label expectations that end up rewarding responsible companies and ultimately protecting and serving the consumer,” said Jared Stanley, founder of cannabis company Charlotte’s Web.

“In terms of the population, it’s important to note in the memo that this is starting in a pilot, but it’s expected to expand beyond the pilot,” he said. “So that’s multiple signs that we’re hoping to see. And we’re very excited. It has amazing potential.”

Relatedly, a CMS spokesperson told Cannabis Wire that while he could not provide exact numbers on the number of patients who will be participating in the pilot program, those details will be released as they become available, and the agency will generally provide updates on the rollout “in the coming weeks.”

When asked about the state of CBD regulation last month, CMS directed Marijuana Moment to a website that describes the integration of hemp into a Beneficiary Engagement Incentive (BEI) program under the agency’s long-term ACO Enhanced Design (LEAD) Model.

“Substance Access BEI allows model participants to consult with their patients about the use of eligible hemp products,” the CMS page states. “Implementation of this BEI and any related distribution would be funded entirely at the participant’s expense; CMS would not cover the cost of these products. Additionally, CMS would have strict program integrity safeguards to ensure that these incentives do not result in program or patient abuse.”

“Substance access is only available to participants in states where BOTH eligible hemp products are considered legal,” it says.

While the broader rules for the CBD Medicare pilot program have not yet been released, the CMS website briefly outlines how it navigates hemp-related issues within the regulatory framework. LEADhas Accountability Accountable Organization (ACO) and Improving Oncology Modeling (EOM).

Oz, the CMS administrator, explained in December that the policy change “will make millions of Americans on Medicare eligible to receive CBD in April of next year, and for free, if their doctors recommend it.”

He added that the Medicare Advantage insurers contacted by CMS “also approve the use of CBD for the 34 million Americans they cover.”

One outstanding question is about coverage eligibility. As the administrator described in December, it would affect those 65 and older who are eligible for Medicare, but the exact conditions were not specified. There were repeated mentions of chronic pain, particularly in relation to cancer, but the CBD eligibility criteria may include additional conditions.

At the signing ceremony, Oz paid tribute to Howard Kessler, founder of The Commonwealth Project, who joined him. Trump shared a video about the benefits of cannabidiol for the elderly Truth Social last year and apparently pressured the president to reform to expand access to cannabis.

While CMS issued a previous final rule this past April specifically stipulating that marijuana, as well as CBD derived from federal law hemp, are ineligible For coverage of the Medicare Advantage program and other services, the agency is revising that policy.

CMS already announced some changes as part of a rulemaking process filed late last year, It affects “marketing and communications, drug coverage, enrollment processes, special needs plans and other programming areas.” for the insurance programs it oversees. One of these changes concerned the coverage of cannabidiol.

The proposed rule would change the regulations, which currently say that “cannabis products” cannot be covered. The policy would “prevent coverage of cannabis products that are illegal under applicable state or federal law, including the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.” Because hemp and its derivatives like CBD are federally legal, the change suggests that patients in states where these products are legal can make valid insurance claims to pay for alternative treatment options, as long as the product is federally legal.

Meanwhile, following the White House’s announcement in December, Oz spoke to NewsNation about the policy change, responding to a question about the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to stem the flow of other illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, as the broad decision to re-regulate marijuana.

“We think they go hand in hand,” he said. “This is really research, specifically CBD, hemp-derived endocannabinoids (sic) – that Americans deserve to use them,” he said. “It’s hard to do some of that work, especially with medical marijuana. And this is not about legalizing marijuana.”

“There is no legalization language at all,” he added. “It’s a reprogramming of this product class to make it easier to research.”

The idea that marijuana, as currently defined as a Schedule I drug, has no medical value is “significantly wrong for marijuana,” he said, noting that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some cannabis-based drugs for conditions like epilepsy that “work quite well.”

“It’s just a wrong place to put that belief that Schedule I should be,” he said. “Schedule III seemed to make sense to the president. He argued that it allows us to do research more easily.”

“We’re finding a way to make some of these products available to Medicare beneficiaries. And so within Medicare, we have the ability, for the first time, and today we’re making good on this promise to the president, to allow doctors to recommend hemp-derived CBD for, for example, cancer patients who are in a lot of pain.”

The administrator said surveys show that most seniors who take CBD for pain management find it beneficial, and the White House wants to “make it easier for patients to access it” and allow them to access the cannabinoid “at no charge” through the federal health insurance program.

Meanwhile, Oz took a different tone when he warned that last month “there will be consequences” as more Americans choose marijuana over alcohol– Including problems caused by “high dose hemp and CBD”.

In the background, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the FDA has recently presented a proposed regulation on CBD enforcement and compliance With the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). There has been speculation that the rule may be related to the CMS pilot program, but this has not been confirmed. And the proposal may be tied to Congress’s mandate for the FDA to produce a list of known cannabinoids ahead of the federal redefinition of hemp.

user photo Nanny Kimzy.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Cannabis News

Bountiful Farms goes best in New England at NECANN Cup

Published

2 hours ago

on

May 25, 2026

By

Bountiful Farms placed first and second in the licensed solvent-free concentrate division at this year’s NECANN Cup, then also won the mixed licensed and unlicensed division to win best overall, putting the Massachusetts operator in the running for best in show with the highest-scoring product in New England.

© Bountiful Farms

NECANN is the largest B2B cannabis event in New England and the second largest in the country, attracting over 9,000 attendees. Everything is unbranded. Licensed and unlicensed operators in the six New England states compete only in product. Zachary Taylor, Director of Agriculture at Bountiful Farms, says the win for Maine’s craft growers means a lot to him and his team. “Whenever you compete against Maine, with its regulations and the craft culture of the caretakers, to be considered a craft on our scale is the greatest honor. When you look at cups across the nation, you see cups of culture, and Maine is always well represented. To be recognized on the same playing field and to excel at this scale is very difficult, and I don’t think that’s what people mean.”

Of course, rosin isn’t given more forcefully to Bountiful Farms. But Zach in a clean way© Bountiful Farms he says, “A good raisin doesn’t appear out of nowhere. It comes from the flower.” The award-winning genetics were bred by Crystal Rose, and built around a high-resin, terpene-rich expression.

“The buds come in within 15 minutes of harvest, it’s like a timer,” Zach says. “Then we move them to a chest freezer, before moving them to an aisle freezer, where they’ll sit until they’re cleaned. All the rosin is pressed by hand in a hydraulic press.” At its scale, Bountiful Farms must use automation to achieve consistently high quality. “But we have very practical components,” he said. “The backlash of the press tells you how hard it is to go. Same approach with agitation, for example. The flower heads themselves, how we maintain the integrity of the trichome, the rise time of the wash, the temperatures: everything is handled like a small-scale race.”

That level of attention comes from the team. Matt Bearup, now a solventless QC manager, started growing and built the hash lab from the ground up all by himself. There are currently eight hash makers, all passionate about complex genetics and terpenes. Strains include not only the main terpenes, but also tasting notes and effects. Using the SC Lab framework, limonene as the current focus. “There’s not a lot of that in the hashish sector in particular. Several growers are moving in that direction.”

© Bountiful Farms

“There’s not a lot like it. Several breeders are moving in that direction.”

Bountiful Farms has been producing rosin since 2021, when the category had little traction© Bountiful Farms in Massachusetts. Since then, the company has expanded into a high-end cultivation center to produce even more rosin. They operate two production rooms and processes not only for themselves, but also for other clients including Native Sun, Breathe Free and u4ea. They have recently opened two new dispensaries, allowing them to expand into recreational retail from 2021. Another limited release of the full melt is planned, along with a dual-cartridge solvent-free pen developed with O2 Vapes, two flavors in one device.

“When you bring award-winning companies together, you get products that represent the industry at its best. Massachusetts deserves its place among the leaders in this industry. When we win, the industry wins.”

For more information:
Prosperous Farms
prosperous farm. take care of

Continue Reading

Cannabis News

Federal Drug Testing Rule Will Require ‘Directly Observed’ Urine Collection From Truck Drivers

Published

2 hours ago

on

May 25, 2026

By

“A month that goes by without an oral fluid test is another month when federal employees with paruresis face anxiety, discrimination, and barriers.”

By Kastalia Medrano, Filter

The Department of Transportation will require “directly observed” urine drug testing in federal employment situations where saliva testing is required but not possible. The clarification of DOT drug and alcohol testing procedures is the latest development in a years-long push by the trucking industry. oral fluid testing as an alternative to urine testing.

The new rule was published in the Federal Register on May 11, and will go into effect on June 10.

Truck drivers, who are subject to a large number of federal regulations, do not choose the method of drug testing, while DOT-regulated employers do. The campaign to implement oral fluid testing has been led by the American Trucking Association (ATA), which believes it is necessary to “keep drivers with disabilities off the road and maintain the trucking industry’s commitment to safety.”

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) approved lab-based oral fluid testing in 2019, and the DOT finalized its regulations in 2023 allowing employers to choose this as an alternative to urine testing. But the actual implementation requires at least. Two laboratories approved by the Food and Drug Administration to process tests—one for the initial analysis and another to confirm the results. There are currently zero.

Oral fluid testing is attractive to many employers for a number of reasons, one of which is its effectiveness in detecting drug use within hours compared to urine drug testing. While the trucking industry has become the public face of the campaign, the regulations also affect federal workers in the commercial aviation, railroad, public transportation and pipeline sectors.

One of the main concerns expressed by the trucking industry has been that urine drug screens are not visible, making it easier to avoid oral fluid testing. Another concern is paruresis, commonly referred to as “shy bladder” syndrome: if a driver can’t urinate when they need to, they’re stuck for a three-hour wait, which obviously affects their arrival time. And if they still cannot produce urine during this period, they are considered to have refused to take the test and are removed from their duties. To return, they must “pass” a urine test watched by a same-sex observer.

New DOT the rule also updates existing terminology by replacing the word “gender” with the word “sex” in accordance with President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order “Defending Women from Gender Ideological Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”

“A month that goes without an oral fluid test is another month when federal employees with paruresis face anxiety, discrimination and professional barriers,” Dr. Steven Soifer, co-founder of the International Paruresis Society, said in March. “We have been working on this issue since our inception (30 years ago). Our members ask the same question every day: When will the federal government finish the work it has already approved?”

In April, at the request of ATA, six members of Congress he wrote Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services citing FDA regulatory hurdles as the reason why laboratories in the United States are not certified to process oral fluid tests.

They cited an analysis by Quest Diagnostics that showed a 370 percent increase in “replaced” urine specimens from 2022 to 2023. Quest has its own laboratory-based oral fluid collection method, Quantisal™, and has therefore been an ardent supporter of the campaign.

On May 1, the FDA a notice with the intention of considering revising the requirements for toxicology studies. That same day SAMHSA a the list It confirms that currently certified laboratories, which will probably be updated in the future, but are not available at the moment.

However, at the end of the day, HHS handles oral fluid testing in a similar scenario to hair follicle testing. The department promised to create guidelines for hair testing in 2015, but has yet to do so.

This the article originally posted by The filteran online magazine that deals with drug use, drug policy and human rights from a harm reduction perspective. Follow Filter on Bluesky, X or Facebookand sign up for their newsletter.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Continue Reading

Cannabis News

TSA clarifies that cannabis policy has not changed

Published

1 day ago

on

May 24, 2026

By











Over the past week, many news organizations have been running exaggerated headlines about a supposed change by the federal government to allow marijuana to be brought into airports and airplanes. But it’s not true, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) tells Marijuana Moment.

“TSA’s policy on medical marijuana has not changed,” a TSA spokeswoman said in an email Wednesday.

“According to the TSA website: If any illegal substance or evidence of criminal activity is found during the security screening, TSA will refer the matter to law enforcement,” they said. While it’s true that the agency’s list of medical marijuana “What can I bring?” section of its website was updated on April 27, there were no major changes in policy.

Currently, the website says “Yes,” passengers can carry medical marijuana in carry-on and checked bags with special instructions. But the TSA cannabis policy has said “Yes” to medical marijuana, with the same caveats, since 2019.

Read more at Marijuana Moment










Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending

Copyright © 2021 The Art of MaryJane Media