Hemp Industry Organizations Unite on 7 Key Objectives for 2024 Farm Bill

Thirty-three nonprofit organizations representing every facet of the hemp supply chain have united on top priorities for the forthcoming Farm Bill, must-pass legislation that is set to replace the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) that federally legalized hemp.

The upcoming Farm Bill missed an end-of-2023 deadline as lawmakers indicated that the legislation could face a one-year delay.

As negotiations on the bill continue this year, hemp industry organizations have come together on seven key objectives that aim to create more jobs while also providing regulatory direction to farmers.

“With the Farm Bill delayed, possibly beyond the upcoming presidential election, we have an extended window to build upon the substantial strides made this year,” U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR) General Counsel Jonathan Miller said in a public statement. “The remarkable unity within our industry sends a powerful message to Congress. We will seize this window of opportunity to ensure that the final package reflects and prioritizes the key objectives crucial to the growth and sustainability of the hemp industry.”

RELATED: Cannabis Regulators Association Calls on Congress to Adjust Hemp Laws in 2023 Farm Bill

According to a press release, the nearly three dozen organizations are urging Congress to do the following through the 2024 Farm Bill:

• Regulate CBD and other ingredients derived from hemp under the existing frameworks for dietary supplement and food additives as outlined in H.R. 1629 and S. 2451.
• Address the shortage of testing laboratories and protect consumers by allowing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ISO 17025 accredited laboratories to test hemp products. See proposal here.
• Reduce regulatory requirements for hemp grain and fiber farmers via H.R. 3755 or S. 980, and/or through a fit-for-purpose approach as outlined here.
• Permit hemp grain for animal feed.
• Maintain the current definition of “hemp” while balancing appropriate consumer protections with continued market access to popular hemp products.
• Promote justice, equity and the planet by repealing the felon ban in H.R. 1428, supporting hemp research at minority serving institutions, and enhancing climate opportunities through carbon credit programs.
• Mandate that hemp crops should be deemed compliant unless they exceed 1% total THC, as defined by USDA. See proposal here.
  

The organizations’ united objectives for the forthcoming Farm Bill mark one of the first times industry stakeholders have aligned on a strategic legislative agenda. Last year, the Hemp Industries Association (HIA), the National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) and the USHR came together to outline policy priorities that have since been refined and improved following negotiations and feedback from other stakeholders.

“We heard members of Congress and their staff asking for unity in the hemp industry, and we took action,” NIHC President and CEO Patrick Atagi said in a public statement. “The industry is now speaking with a unified voice. We know hemp creates jobs, provides direct and indirect income, supports towns, cities, and municipalities through taxes, and benefits society through sustainable agriculture. Congress and the federal government can grow the industry exponentially by adopting the seven legislative proposals before them.”