Addressing Legal Ambiguity: The Call for Congressional Action

A coalition of 22 state attorneys general is urging Congress to address the legal vagueness that has inadvertently facilitated the sale of cannabis products, including intoxicating variants, across the nation.

Unintended Consequences of the 2018 Farm Bill

In a letter dated March 20, the attorneys general highlight the unintended consequences of Republican lawmakers’ decision to legalize hemp production in the 2018 omnibus Farm Bill. This move inadvertently paved the way for a booming market in intoxicating cannabis products, which are arguably federally legal.

Seeking Congressional Intervention

Now, the attorneys general are pushing for Congress to close the market it inadvertently created. They are calling for the new Farm Bill to explicitly state that intoxicating cannabis is not federally legal, contrary to the current law.

Clarifying the Definition of Hemp

The coalition’s request aims to redefine hemp in federal statute to clarify that it cannot induce intoxication, aiming to distinguish it from psychoactive cannabis strains.

Addressing the Gray Market

The rise of the legal hemp market, which includes intoxicating products, has created a gray area valued at an estimated $28 billion. This unregulated market contradicts the carefully crafted regulations of state-approved recreational and medicinal cannabis industries.

Bipartisan Unity in Action

The coalition represents a bipartisan effort, including representatives from states with varying cannabis legalization statuses. This includes states where recreational marijuana is legal (such as California and Hawaii), where it’s only allowed for medical use (like Pennsylvania), and where it remains fully illegal (such as Georgia).