This week, industry organizations responded to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) latest updates on its efforts to regulate CBD. Meanwhile, two of the remaining three states in the U.S. without a hemp program in place have made opposing decisions regarding the crop: Idaho lawmakers killed a bill that would have legalized hemp cultivation in the state, while South Dakota lawmakers are days away from passing a bill to do so.
Here are the week’s top headlines you might have missed.
National: The FDA has issued updates on its pursuit to regulate cannabidiol (CBD), which includes conducting research into the cannabinoid and devising plans to allow it in dietary supplements. But industry organizations fear those regulations won’t be coming anytime soon. Read more
Colorado: The state has approved a new pesticide, Cueva Fungicide Concentrate, for use on hemp. Read more
Idaho: In a narrow 8-7 vote, Idaho lawmakers have once again killed a bill that would legalize hemp cultivation and production in the state. Read more
Iowa: Fairfield-based FoodChain ID has become the exclusive certifying entity for the U.S. Hemp Authority (USHA) certification seal. Read more
Kentucky: State lawmakers are considering a bill that would establish the Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research at the University of Kentucky, which could potentially receive up to $4 million from the state over the next two years for research. Read more
Minnesota: A farmer in the state had hemp samples seized by law enforcement when he tried to send them to a lab in Colorado for testing. Read more
Pennsylvania: The nation’s oldest historically black university, Cheney University, will grow hemp this year and partner with CBD processing lab Advanced Alchemy Labs, which produces hemp-based products. Read more
South Dakota: Now just one of three states that doesn’t allow hemp production, South Dakota will soon be losing that status. A bill passed the Senate this week that Gov. Kristi Noem is expected to sign to legalize the crop and create a plan for its production. Read more
Texas: More hemp manufacturers and processors, both for CBD oil and fiber, are due to come into the state this year when the application window opens March 16. Read more
Meanwhile, a new Austin-based company, Collective Growth Corp., is looking to raise money through an IPO to build processing and decortication facilities across the U.S. Geoff Whaling, the chairman of the National Hemp Association, spoke with Hemp Grower about the vision behind the project he formed with two other former Canopy Growth executives. Read more
