The complex collision between a federal court’s interpretation of the 2018 Farm Bill and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) interpretation was the article of the month for Cannabis Business Times readers.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled Sept. 4 that THC-O acetate, commonly referred to as just THC-O, meets the legal definition of hemp, deviating from a 2023 DEA declaration that the semi-synthetic analogue is a Schedule I controlled substance.
The court found that the DEA’s interpretation of synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinols related to the Farm Bill lacks the “power to persuade,” one of many determinations that captivated reader attention to lead CBT’s top 10 most-read articles in September.
Taking the No. 2 spot this month was another hemp-related article: California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s emergency regulations that effectively banned hemp-derived cannabinoid products with any traceable amount of THC starting Sept. 23.
September’s top 10 articles also featured an in-depth analysis of 11 states that are projected to have billion-dollar cannabis markets in 2024, Virginia awarding a long-vacated medical cannabis license to multistate operator AYR Wellness, the DEA assisting a raid of nine vape shops in Texas, and a pair of articles on Trump predicting Florida’s adult-use ballot measure would pass and his support for federal cannabis rescheduling and banking reform.
Catch up on the top 10 most-read articles below:
The Top 10
No. 10: Support for Florida Cannabis Legalization Measure Eclipses $100 Million
Behind Trulieve’s contributions, Amendment 3 backers are outraising their opponents, 5 to 1, in the nation’s most well-funded legalization campaign.
No. 9: Trump Signals Support for Federal Cannabis Rescheduling, Banking Reform
The GOP presidential candidate said he will focus on unlocking the ‘medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug’ if elected in November.
No. 8: New York Nukes $63 Million of Seized Cannabis Products From 1,000 Shutdown Smoke Shops
City officials incinerated more than 4 tons of unregulated cannabis products seized from their ‘Operation Padlock to Protect.’
No. 7: Medical Marijuana Act Signed by Biden Would Hinder Research Under Rescheduling
The Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act’s requirements would remain under Schedule III, a congressional researcher says.
No. 6: Allen Police Department, DEA Raid 9 Texas Vape Shops, Destroy Hemp Products
Local authorities accused the shops of selling noncompliant products, sometimes to minors. An attorney said the police and DEA ‘overstepped their authority.’
No. 5: Trump Predicts Florida Voters Will Legalize Cannabis, Urges Legislature to Prohibit Public Use
The former president is at odds with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over adult-use legalization, but both have concerns about the smell.
No. 4: AYR Wellness Awarded Virginia’s HSA I Vertical Cannabis License
The publicly traded multistate cannabis operator will have exclusive medical cannabis licensing rights to the state’s Health Service Area in Northern Virginia.
No. 3: 11 States Projected to Be Billion-Dollar Cannabis Markets in 2024
Maryland will be the newest state to join the 10-figure club this year, while three other states are expected to come just shy of the sales mark.
No. 2: Hemp-Derived THC Products Now Illegal in California After OAL Approval
The state’s Office of Administrative Law approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s emergency regulations to ban hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoid products.
No. 1: 4th Circuit Court Rules THC-O Meets Legal Definition of Hemp, Deviating From DEA
The federal court’s interpretation of the 2018 Farm Bill contradicts the Drug Enforcement Administration’s position that THC-O is illegal.
