This week, Hemp Grower took a deeper dive into the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA’s) final rule on hemp released January 15. The final rule made several changes from the department’s interim final rule, including:
increasing the sampling window (the maximum amount of time allowed between sampling for testing and the planned harvest date) from 15 days to 30.
allowing states to implement “performance-based” sampling, leading to additional flexibility in procedures.
increasing the negligence level from 0.5% to 1%.
Read more about the final rule’s changes, what remained the same and how it could affect the industry here.
Industry members also explained and gave reactions to the permissible THC limit in hemp remaining at 0.3% in the final rule. They also delved into the possibilities—including potential consequences—should that limit eventually be increased at the national level. Read more
In other news, a case over a destroyed crop that was allegedly hemp in California is heating up. A federal court has issued a stay of discovery in Apothio LLC’s lawsuit against Kern County and several other defendants after the defendants countersued Apothio’s founder, Trent Jones, for allegedly growing marijuana. Now, the two cases are becoming entangled. Read more
In Indiana, the Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) is warning growers to be aware of active untrustworthy hempseed suppliers not just in Indiana, but also throughout the country. Donald Robison, an OISC seed administrator, details what happened when one grower in the state bought seeds from a disreputable vendor. Read more
And in Texas, a court hearing on the state’s smokable hemp ban has been postponed again until March. Catch up on the case here.
