by HempingtonPost | Jul 8, 2019
The Emperor’s New Clothes should have been crafted from hemp all along and Americans are just now discovering it.
It was a Wednesday afternoon in the middle of June in Will Smith-popularized Bel Air, California where a two-day cannabis conference and expo was being held at a mansion. A level of investment not entirely atypical in Los Angeles, the world’s fastest growing cannabis market.
Cannabis gatherings of this magnitude require special logistics. After a veritable park-and-ride from somewhere near UCLA, I’d arrived at WeedCon West, where cannabis education, product sampling, and augmented multisensory experiences, all met in a lavish and expansive setting.
Larger cannabis companies like Sol Distro, Cresco Labs, Kushy Punch, and Marley Naturals were interwoven with smaller, and newer brands. Cannabis-derived “full spectrum protection”) suntan lotion manufacturer and sun care experts, Divios Naturals, small grows like Greenshock Farm and Stone Road Farms, and industry packaging experts, The Packaging Company, what seemed like 50 or so other cannabis companies and vendors.
(A special shout-out to my kinfolk, the team from Hawaii-based Pakalolo Seed Co. My 83 year-old, gardening-master dad’s going to sprout your seeds for us. Watch for an article later in the year.)
I navigated my way through them all, seeking a dose of opinion, a taste of product, and a sprinkling of wisdom.
I emerged from a bathroom break waving my hands feverishly (because, ironically, there were no towels in the mansion’s restroom), I made my way to an expansive pool replete with inflatable swans and ripples left by some guy who’d decided to disrobe and jump in.
Someone handed me what I call a “free-roll” pre-rolled joint: Ingredients? No details necessary.
A woman in a shimmery, yellow evening gown walked past me, followed by an Ignite model holding a plate with those cute, little egg rolls that seem like a good idea until you’ve had ten of them. Fearless, I made my to the kitchen for my own plate followed by some cannabis-infused edible desserts.
I explored the cleverly themed rooms to the discovery of Herer Group’s I was drawn to the cigar lounge-like, wood-clad lair partly out of curiosity, partly because they had comfortable looking chairs. The Herer Group team being the only other people wearing suits was inviting, as well.
Black suits, at that. And having recently dabbed outback with Dab Nation, this was no funeral. It was more the celebration of an industry legend, Jack Herer, and what he was trying to tell people about cannabis all along.
A convincing videographer, the allure of faux fur draped across a shoulder, and the generous goodie bag had me promptly seated to learn more. More about the predictions that predate where the American cannabis industry is today, a book into which they were scribed, and the man who wrote it.
Jack Herer, the man
Nicknamed the Hemperor, activist Jack Herer (1939 – 2010) left his mark on American subculture by resurfacing age-old cultures, studies, and assertions that cannabis for food, fiber, fuel, medicine, recreation, and other purposes can solve most of the world’s most consequential environmental, social and economic problems.
But Jack wasn’t always a cannabis advocate. As a conservative-leaning veteran most of his life, he wasn’t introduced to the plant until irresistible, love-smitten pressure led him to it in his 30’s (more on that later).
“When I went off to the army when I was 17 years old, I believed in America and the rights of freedom,” Jack Herer is quoted as saying. “But today I believe my government is lying to the American people and that my president, George Bush, is a criminal.”
A prison stint in the name of advocacy gave Jack Herer time to pen the first draft of a book revered within the cannabis industry and respected throughout the world: The Emperor Wears No Clothes.
The book
The Emperor Wears No Clothes is a play on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, a story where swindling weavers who trick the king, granting him and invisible, “supernatural” garment that cannot be seen or touched by any person of illegitimate birth. Effectively convincing the king he was looking dapper when, in fact, he was naked.
In this version, Jack Herer effectively blows the king’s cover, revealing that cannabis prohibition is an injustice to the American people, brought about by nefarious policy making. Sinister political motives in the 1930’s demonized the plant in all its forms (marijuana and hemp) to preserve the interests of powerful politicians, oil tycoons, publishers, and status-quo conservatives.
Citing Henry Ford, “and other futuristic, organic, engineering geniuses” in the early 1900’s, the book shares published findings that biomass from corn stalks, cannabis, waste paper and the like could replace 90 percent of all fossil fuel used in the world today (coal, oil, natural gas, etc.).
“Government and oil and coal companies, etc., will insist that burning biomass fuels is no better than using up our fossil fuel reserves, as far as pollution goes; but this is patently untrue,” Jack Herer wrote. “Why? Because, unlike fossil fuels, biomass comes from living (not extinct) plants that continue to remove carbon dioxide pollution from our atmosphere as they grow, through photosynthesis. Furthermore, biomass fuels do not contain sulfur.”
Decades later, the book’s foreshadowing is coming to light.
This is a great, thorough, award-nominated, 25-minute video rendition of The Emperor Wears No Clothes delivered by people who know it well. And here’s a free online version of the book in its entirety, with rights released by his family.
The people & the company
The Herer Group is built upon the principles of both the man and the book, and consists of multiple vertically integrated cultivation, manufacturing and distribution companies licensed in the state of California. The Group manages Herer Distribution, Herer Manufacturing, and Herer Labs & Research.
Cannabis sourced from family-sized farms is tested with Herer Labs before being manufactured into award-winning (first-place win for its cannabis concentrate at the industry’s famed 2018 Emerald Cup) flower, pre-rolls, vape pens sold under the Dr. Delights, Infusio and The Original Jack Herer brand names. These craft products are then distributed by Herer Distribution to licensed cannabis dispensaries statewide.
As I sat with them on this particular day, The Group’s people appeared as elegant as the brand. And that’s what’s needed as California’s cannabis market becomes flooded with thousands of new products: Distinction.
The Group pays homage to cannabis industry pioneers in buying their crops and keeping their cash flow going. “If it wasn’t for those who are the true legacy of what it is that we’re all building our companies on, if it wasn’t for the small growers who put the love and intention into putting out a product that they could take care of their families at a time when it wasn’t legal and paid the ultimate price, I wouldn’t be able to do what I am today,” Dan Herer, Jack’s son and founder of the Jack Herer Foundation and Herer Group, told me when we sat together.
The company plans to further expand those industry partnerships next year. “I’m really looking forward to the end of this year and going into next year with these partnerships with small farms, with folks who have the love and intent that has given us all the power to do the things that we need to do,” Dan Herer said.
For cannabis businesses, keeping with the Hemperor’s quest for sustainable hemp adoption across the nation, and the liberation to enjoy, research, develop, and heal from the cannabis plant requires commitment. It means that whether you’re touching the plant or not, you still know there is a war against prohibition to be fought in the United States, and in some form, you’re contributing to the fight.
“What we have here in California and across the United States is just another level of prohibition—it’s not the end of prohibition because when they still create laws that are based on the fears and falses of prohibition,” Dan Herer believes. “When they use those to create the regulatory framework in which we’re building all of our businesses, it fractures the foundation, it will be bound to fail if we don’t correct it.”
The products
The Jack Herer cannabis strain is a multi award-winning sativa-dominant hybrid created by Sensi Seeds to honor its namesake. Aromatic and cerebral, The Group’s flower takes form as The Original Jack Herer with premium buds from Herer Farms and an adherence to high quality standards.
“In the cannabis world, we try not to encourage blind attachment to brands, but rather products,” California delivery service provider Ganja Goddessdiscloses on its website. “However, the Original Jack Herer™ line of products is genuinely backed by both history and anecdotal support…break out the canvas, or pen pad – this strain will inspire the best part of your creative side without weighing down your limbs.”
“This is a brand that has more fans than customers now,” Herer Group partner, Latif Horst told me.
Some consumers use some Herer products to keep from being bummed out, and others to totally veg out. “I choose a strain like Jack Herer or Lemon Tree for rainy days when I need to be active, as they lift me up beyond the depression of clouds and precipitation,” said Twitter user @c0uchl0cked (who also provides what I’m wagering is deep expertise on effective use of downtime). “If I have nothing to do and can afford to waste a day, indica edibles help me enjoy some serious relaxation.”
That’s free testimonial website copy, right there.
And despite the incomplete sentence at the end, this is a rather descriptive tweet about the treatment applications and perceived benefits users have experienced with Herer products.
Jack’s inspiration
So what got this all started in the first place? What turned Jack Herer, this former Goldwater Republican into a cannabis imbiber and advocate?
According to Dan, it was a girlfriend who essentially said he dad needed to smoke weed, because he was too boring, otherwise.
Disclosure: I have no financial interest or positions in the aforementioned companies. This information is for educational purposes and does not constitute financial and/or legal advice. But Select CBD did hook me up with a great free vape pen. Follow me on Instagram and TwitterCheck out my website.
This story originally appeared on Forbes.
Andre Bourque (@SocialMktgFella) is a cannabis industry connector, brand advisor, contributing writer, and the Vice President of Business Development for Verdantis Advisors, a full-service cannabis consulting agency. Verdantis specializes in cannabis industry investments, mergers and acquisitions, funding, partnerships, marketing, and media. Andre is the managing director of the cannabis division of Miramar Brands, a legacy full-service licensing agency representing Elle Magazine, Target, Kohl’s, Spalding, and other leading brands. We work with cannabis brands to leverage powerful mainstream names in the production of new products, channels, and markets. Andre is also the managing director of North America for blockchain marketing agency ICO Launch Group. In addition to Forbes, Andre’s articles have been featured in The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Benzinga, Yahoo Finance, Ebony, CIO Magazine, ComputerWorld, and Social Media Today. Andre has held technology marketing positions in the aerospace industry, at Sun Microsystems, Intel, Technorati, and several startups. Andre is a card-carrying member of Souplantation’s Club Veg.
by HempingtonPost | Jul 1, 2019
Marijuana Moment is a wire service assembled by Tom Angell, a marijuana legalization activist and journalist covering marijuana reform nationwide. The views expressed by Angell or Marijuana Moment are neither endorsed by the Globe nor do they reflect the Globe’s views on any subject area.
The US Department of Agriculture offered new insights into its rulemaking process for hemp regulations in a notice published in the Federal Register on Monday.
Of particular note is the deadline by which the USDA is aiming to release its “interim final rule” for the newly legal crop: August. Previously, the department simply said it would have the rules in place in time for the 2020 planting season.
“This action will initiate a new part 990 establishing rules and regulations for the domestic production of hemp,” the new notice states. “This action is required to implement provisions of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill).”
The hemp update is part of a larger regulatory agenda for various agencies that’s being released by the Trump administration.
A USDA spokesperson told Marijuana Moment that the August projection is the department’s “best estimate” for when the regulations will be released. It remains the USDA’s intention “to have the regulations in place by this fall to allow for a 2020 planting season.”
“However, the clearance process will dictate the actual timing of the publication,” the spokesperson said.
While USDA officials have said the department didn’t plan to expedite the regulatory process despite strong interest among stakeholders, it seems to be making steady progress so far. The department said in March that it has “begun the process to gather information for rulemaking.”
The USDA has also outlined the basic elements that will be required when states or tribes are eventually able to submit regulatory plans for federal approval. Those proposals will have to include information about the land that will be used for hemp cultivation, testing standards, disposal procedures, law enforcement compliance, annual inspections, and certification for products and personnel.
The new update comes about six months after hemp and its derivatives were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill. But until the USDA releases its guidelines, hemp farmers must adhere to the earlier rules established under a narrower research-focused provision of the 2014 version of the agriculture legislation.
While the rules are yet to be published and there are therefore some restrictions on what hemp farmers can lawfully do, the USDA has clarified several policies that have already gone into effect in recent months.
The department is accepting intellectual property applications for hemp products, for example. It also explained that hemp seeds can be lawfully imported from other countries and that the crop can be transported across state lines because it’s been federally descheduled.
This story originally appeared at Boston Globe
by HempingtonPost | Jun 29, 2019
In just its second year growing hemp, South Carolina is projecting a 1,200% increase in acres of what many are hailing as the next big cash crop.
This heightened rate of growth is common around the country as states scramble for a piece of the budding market. Though the Palmetto State is years behind the regional hemp powerhouse of Kentucky, growers here now see opportunity to come into their own and catch up with neighboring states following law changes this spring.
“I think we’re in a really good position right now to be a solid hemp state,” said Vanessa Elsalah, hemp program coordinator for the state Agriculture Department.
South Carolina has 113 permitted growers this year planning to plant about 3,300 acres total, Elsalah said, though the department did not provide the field locations and actual acres planted may change. This is up from 20 growers and 256 acres last year.
City Roots, a Columbia urban farm known for its organic greens, planted 80 acres of hemp in Columbia this year and plans to plant another 120 acres south of Charleston by the end of the month, said Eric McClam. And he does not expect excitement around the new crop to subside.
“We will increase acreage again next year,” he said, having joined forces with another grower and processor, Brackish Solutions.
With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, limits on hemp cultivation and the plant’s status as a Schedule 1 drug were lifted at the federal level. Brackish founder Jason Eargle was among those pushing expansion of the state’s program in response.
“We’ll get left behind if we don’t open this up to more people,” Eargle said. “If federal law allows it, why should we cap it? We wanted to not hold back our state from competing.”
In the region, Kentucky’s hemp industry is about five years ahead of South Carolina and grew 6,700 acres last year. The Bluegrass State is now up to 1,035 approved growers.
North Carolina has one year on the Palmetto State, having grown 965 acres in 2017 and 3,184 acres in 2018. And Tennessee has 2,600 farmers licensed to grow this year. Last year, 226 farmers grew a combined 4,700 acres in the Volunteer State.
South Carolina farmers first planted hemp in 2018, when 20 permits were issued by the Agriculture Department and 256 acres were grown. The program was set to double in 2019 when a new law signed in March removed any limits. The agency then opened up planting to all who had applied earlier in the year.
The agriculture department’s hemp division fields multiple calls daily from potential new growers hoping to plant in 2020.
“Since that law has been passed, (state Agriculture Department officials) are really jumping in head first,” Eargle said. “If they keep doing that, I think we will very quickly catch up with and surpass our neighbors.”
Much of the current demand can be attributed to CBD oil.
This story originally appeared on Post and Courier
by Nature Going Smart | Mar 29, 2019
Today, one of the most common forms of biofuel is biodiesel. In “What is Biodiesel” we already discussed its origins and evaluated pros and cons of its use in “Drawbacks of modern production of Biodiesel”.
Today we would like to address
– what is the role of the Cannabis plant in the Biodiesel and green energies scenario?
– how can this plant help us to move towards a more sustainable-energy world?
One of the most interesting alternative to traditional and common feedstocks for biodiesel and biofuels in general is Cannabis.
Why Cannabis is an interesting raw material for biodiesel?
Biodiesel can be produced from a great variety of feedstocks: the choice for the best one depends largely on geography, climate and economics. For this reasons, today rapeseed and sunflower oils are mainly used in Europe, soybean oil and animal fats in the United States, palm oil in tropical Countries and corn and sugarcane in Brazil.
Thus, the choice of feedstock used for Biodiesel production does not follow criteria that pinpoint the most efficient raw material that could be grown for this purpose, but it’s rather based on the most available feedstock currently present in a Country.
In contrast to palm oil, sugar cane, maize, etc., Cannabis is a highly adaptable, fast-growing, annual plant that can be cultivated at most latitudes. In addition, Cannabis is oneof the few plants that produces high yields of both oil and biomass, which means it can be used to produce both biodiesel and bioethanol.
For this reasons, Cannabis has the potential to form the basis of a revolutionary fuel industry, internationally distributed because the plant can be efficiently grown almost anywhere, yet locally determined because consumers and communities can also be producers.
What kinds of green energies can be produced from the Cannabis plant?
There are many applications for the Cannabis plant in the textile, food, medical and building sectors, but its uses in the energy sector are not well known by the general public and not limited to biodiesel which is just one of many.
Examples of energy products that can be produced from Cannabis are: [3] , [4]
– heat produced from the combustion of briquettes or pellets made of Cannabis hurds and stems;
– electricity from Cannabis biomass through the use of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) engines;
– biogas from anaerobic digestion, a common natural process based on microbial degradation of biomass in the absence of oxygen, which generates methane;
– bioethanol obtained through fermentation, which is another natural process used by man since ancient times;
– biodiesel from Cannabis seed oil where the oil contained in the seeds is converted to biodiesel by a transesterification process with methanol;
Between the advantages of using Cannabis as a resource for biofuels we can now highlight at least 4 important points:
1) Cannabis produces annually high yields of both oil and biomass;
2) Cannabis can be efficiently used in crop rotations substituting the common crops, so no new arable land would be necessary;
3) Cannabis requires little pesticide;
4) Cannabis has the potential to decrease pesticide use in succeeding crops; [5] Today, the main feedstocks for biofuels like maize, soybean and sugar beet, require large quantities of pesticides so a biofuel production 100% based on these crops may not be a real green solution.
In fact, a responsible way of growing green oil crops should take under consideration the amount of pesticides the cultivar requires.
Pesticide use have a strong influence on:
a) the energy input in cultivation (due to high energy requirements for pesticide production)
b) the entire ecosystem
If you are interested in natural pesticides solution, check out our video on “Push-pull technologies, an eco friendly pest management system”.
In contrast with common feedstocks, Cannabis:
– can be grown even on “marginal” lands because it has low input requirements for cultivation;
– can be efficiently used as a preceding crop for the cultivation of cereals since it increases their yields from 10-20%;
– is a pest-resistant, highly adaptable plan;
– even in monoculture fields, it allows for a low pesticide use if followed by a well designed crop rotation;
– it is an annual plant that fits well in crop rotations and it has the ability to suppress soil pathogens opening the path for an healthier soil; [6], [7]
Cannabis biofuel: the advantages
– low pesticide requirements;
– good weed competition (less need for pesticides);
– suitability as break crop in cereal-oriented crop rotations;
– high biomass yield in relatively short time;
– low input requirements;
– economically feasible even for small-scale cultivation areas;
– unlike perennial crops it does not require any long term commitment for its cultivation;
All these aspects may be key elements for a more sustainable biofuel production from biomass in the next future.
So, why Cannabis is not already the main source for biofuels worldwide?
Today, after decades of prohibition, Cannabis is getting back to the legal market claiming its share in many sectors. Laws are changing and people has started to look at different alternatives.
But the reason why Cannabis is still not widely used for biofuels is very simple: today, the value of the crop’s fibre and seed is greater than the value of energy it would produce.
Economical competition on the energy level with petroleum-based fuels or other biofuels can be very challenging for Cannabis. Given the actual situation, incomes for farmers are greater if they sell their seed and fibre crops separately, which can better compete on the food and textile levels.
Right know, without the necessary infrastructure and subsidies by governments aiming to favour green energies instead of fossil fuels, the production of biofuels from Cannabis struggles to be profitable.
Cannabis has a good energy output-to-input ratio and is an above-average energy crop but it has been developed little as an industrial energetic crop over the past decades compared to other crops.
However, in comparison with other well-established food crops, Cannabis still has a great potential for improvement on both increased biomass yields and better conversion efficiencies into biofuel so we can be optimist for the next future.
What are Cannabis hurds and how can they contribute to make energy crop more competitive?
As we said, industrial Cannabis hemp is mainly cultivated for its high-quality fibres and high-value seed oil, but today the hurd, the woody core of the plant which constitutes up to 70% of the dry stalk matter, is a cellulose waste.
A better use of this waste material may contribute to rank Cannabis at the top of the most interesting plants for energy production. In fact, the efficient liberation of sugars from lignocellulosic biomass waste (like Cannabis hurds) not only would decrease solid waste handling, but it would also produce value-added biofuels and bio-based products such as bio-plastics.
Cannabis hurds are a form of lignocellulosic biomass which constitutes the most common raw material present in the world. Differently from wood species, Cannabis is an annual plant and its hurds chemical composition is pretty unique:
– on one hand it is very similar to that of wood species with a high content of carbohydrate (cellulose and hemicelluloses) containing sugars;
– on the other hand it has a very low percentage of lignin, thus favouring the extraction of cellulose from the plant material;
So far, Cannabis hurds still only have minor applications such as animal bedding, garden mulch or as a component of light-weight concrete; Cannabis hurds are an agroindustrial by-product with a high carbohydrate content so they are an excellent candidate for second-generation ethanol production.
Thus, the use of Cannabis hurds as a feedstock to produce ethanol may increase Cannabis attractiveness as a resource for biofuel and replace petrol as a transport fuel.
Conclusions:
Today, technologies to recover up to 96% of the sugar present in Cannabis hurds to transform it in ethanol already exist, but the problem is that they have not been introduced at an industrial scale yet.
Why Cannabis cultivation has the potential to make us move towards a greener world?
– it can promote environmentally beneficial methods of agriculture (especially via crop rotations), which could actually help secure a long-term strategy of land management, ensuring that food
shortages do not occur;
– it can generate the basis for a green economy, taking advantage of the many bio-products that can be derived from the Cannabis plant;
– it can be used for either food, fibre or as a bioremediation crop to restore unproductive land back to agricultural productivity while at the same time providing industrial quantities of cellulose for energy production;
The world urgently needs a replacement for fossil fuels, and cellulose derived ethanol seems to be an ideal industrial successor to them. With Cannabis we would replace an unsustainable industrial feedstock with one which is not only sustainable, but addresses some very serious environmental and socio-economic issues.
It is important to understand that neither Cannabis nor any other energy crop should become the only resource used on a global level for biofuels. Assisting to repeated large monoculture fields of Cannabis for biofuel production would be detrimental even for this highly adaptable plant.
A balanced mix between Cannabis and other crops may provide a solution, and it would be very short-sighted for society and industry to keep neglecting the Cannabis’ energy potential.
Cannabis is an environmentally friendly biodegradable alternative to both petrofuels and petroplastic and it will become more popular only when industrial mandates begin to favour environmental concerns for real.
An increased green consciousness between the general public followed by a bigger demand for natural products may be fundamental in triggering this process.
Here at Nature Going Smart we try to make people move towards a more nature-consciuos world.
Today we explained why Cannabis has the potential to be a real solution for a sustainable worldwide biofuel production.
All the rest is politics.
Deepen your knowledge on the biofuel topic checkin gout our articles “Solutions for biofuel: algae, non-edible oils & waste cooking oils“, “What is biodiesel” and “Drawbacks of modern production of biodiesel“.
by Emperor CBD | Mar 22, 2019
With so much random information being thrown around the internet, it can be very difficult to differentiate what is true and what is false. New laws and bills are constantly being passed that create a great deal of confusion in the cannabis world.
Is CBD legal in all 50 states? Is it legal in the federal government? Do I need a prescription in order to consume CBD?
In this article I’m going to update you on the legal status of CBD, and only CBD, in the United States.
I will not cover the legal status of marijuana or any other substance.
What is CBD?
Surely, you’ve heard of the world-famous cannabis plant. Well cannabis comes in different forms such as potatoes at your local grocery store. One variation of cannabis is called hemp.
All cannabis plants contain cannabinoids, which are a group of similar compounds. The industrial hemp plant happens to contain large quantities of special cannabinoids known as cannabidiol or CBD for short.
Unlike marijuana which contains large quantities of the cannabinoid THC that is responsible for making you feel high, CBD will not make you high. CBD is completely non-psychoactive. Therefore, you will not experience feelings of hunger, uncontrollable laughter, or the perception of time slowing down.
However, CBD will provide many medicinal benefits including reducing inflammation, pain, anxiety, stress, migraines, seizures, depression, and the ability to obtain a much deeper sleep so you can wake up well rested and ready to tackle your daily tasks. CBD is now offered in a wide variety of forms ranging from gummies, gel caps, tinctures, creams, and e-liquids.
Is CBD Legal Under Federal Law?
The short answer to this question is…it depends.
On December 12, 2018 Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill that removed hemp-derived products from the Schedule 1 list under the Controlled Substances Act.
The bill was passed by a Republican majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate with the intention of providing relief for farmers by allowing them to apply for insurance and grants.
Schedule 1 drugs are substances, chemicals, or drugs considered by the federal government to have no medical use and a high potential for abuse such as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.
Although the DEA refuses to remove marijuana from the schedule 1 list, the Farm Bill is considered to be the most important victory in the history of U.S. cannabis. This does not however, mean that all CBD products are now legal.
Only CBD products produced in compliance with the Farm Bill would be legal by federal law. This means that in order for a CBD product to be federally legal, it must meet all of the federal and state regulations, be THC free, and have used hemp derived from a licensed grower.
Nevertheless, the FDA made a statement that it reserves the right to regulate any and all cannabis compounds as it wishes, regardless of the Farm Bill.
Only one product known as Epidiolex contains the FDA’s approval and is classified as a schedule 5 drug, indicating the lowest risk for abuse or addiction.
Is CBD Legal in all 50 States?
CBD is not legal in all 50 states. State governments have the right to establish their own laws that govern the use of CBD within their borders.
Most states have different laws and regulations individually pertaining to CBD and marijuana.
There are currently three states that prohibit the use of any type of cannabis plant.
If you reside in any of the following three states, you are not allowed under any circumstance to consume, posses, or distribute CBD.
- Idaho
- Nebraska
- South Dakota
Ten states and Washington D.C. have completely legalized all forms of cannabis:
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Vermont
- Washington
- Washington D.C.
The remaining 36 states allow the use of CBD. However, of those 36 states, 15 have strict regulations pertaining to CBD.
If you reside in any of the following 15 states, there are laws stating certain conditions must be met in order to legally obtain CBD.
- In order to legally posses CBD in Alabama, you must be in accordance to Leni’s Law which states you must be diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition and be undergoing treatment or you are part of a state-sponsored clinical trial.
- Georgia only allows patients diagnosed with cancer, ALS, seizures, and other serious medical conditions to legally possess CBD. You can find the list of medical conditions here.
- Indiana passed a law in March of 2018 stating that anyone can buy, sell, or possess CBD oil products as long as it contains no more than 0.3% THC.
- In Iowa, the Department of Public Health has legalized CBD for individuals suffering from debilitating medical conditions. If you reside in Iowa and you suffer from a serious medical condition that is not yet approved, you can submit a petition to buy CBD here.
- In 2018, Kansas passed the Senate Bill 282 allowing any adult to legally purchase CBD as long as the product contains 0% THC.
- In 2017, Kentucky approved the House Bill 333 that legalized the consumption and retail sale of CBD containing up to 0.3% THC .
- In 2014, Mississippi legalized CBD for epileptic patients. However, the products must contain more than 15% CBD, cannot exceed 5% THC, have been obtained or tested from the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi and dispensed by the Department of Pharmacy Services at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
- North Carolina has legalized CBD containing less than 0.3% THC for patients who suffer from severe epilepsy and is produced in compliance with the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission regulations.
- Oklahoma legalized the consumption of CBD for patients of all ages suffering from spasticity, paraplegia, nausea, vomiting, and appetite stimulation under the condition that it is recommended by a doctor. Unfortunately, no laws have been passed allowing individuals to distribute CBD.
- In 2014, South Carolina passed Julian’s Law which legalized the possession and use of CBD for epileptic patients who obtain a recommendation from a physician.
- In 2016, Tennessee legalized the use of CBD containing no more than 0.9% THC for epileptic patients who have been properly diagnosed and individuals who possess a legal order.
- Texas allows the use of CBD for epileptic patients. However, the product must contain at least 10% CBD and 0.5% THC.
- Virginia legalized CBD oil to treat any medical condition as long as the patient was diagnosed by a licensed practitioner.
- In 2017, Wisconsin legalized the use of CBD with a physician’s approval for any medical condition.
- Wyoming has legalized CBD use but only for patients with epilepsy who have been unsuccessfully treated with various alternatives. Their petition for the possession and use of CBD must be approved by the state’s Department of Health.
If you look at the image below, you can obtain a much better visualization of the state laws regarding CBD:
Take Away
Despite the fact that the DEA isn’t (for the most part) using its authority to regulate CBD, you should nevertheless stay informed on the laws and regulations that apply to your state and local government.
New bills are constantly being introduced that may change the legal status of CBD.
It is possible that by the time you’ve read this article, some of the statements written on here have changed.
Always play it safe and follow the law.
