This week, prospective hemp growers in Humboldt County, California are grappling with a newly announced permanent ban on hemp production in the area. It’s a policy move notable mostly for the backdrop of cannabis cultivation in the county, part of California’s Emerald Triangle and a legendary source for THC-rich crops and back-to-the-land cultural dynamics. The county, however, noted that it may revisit the ban down the line. Read more
Meanwhile, legislators and hemp advocates in Indiana are fighting their own ban: one on smokable hemp production. Indiana State Rep. Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville) has filed House Bill 1224 to legalize hemp flower in the state, which is just one of three bills in Indiana filed this year to legalize smokable hemp flower. H.B. 1224, however, appears to have the most promise. Read more
Over in New York, a federal judge has tossed a proposed securities class action suit against Curaleaf that alleged the company’s inaccurate labeling of its cannabidiol (CBD) products caused its share prices to drop. The judge found that Curaleaf was fully transparent from the launch of its company about the legal gray area of CBD. Read more
Across the ocean, a new report from the European Commission’s Focus Group on Sustainable Industrial Crops in Europe spells out the long-term sustainability of many crops, including hemp. The group placed fiber and bioenergy at the top of their list for most promising areas for industrial crops. Read more
