CBD News Roundup: USDA Secretary Gives Hemp Supporters Hope for Relaxed Rules

Here are the latest CBD news stories:

• USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue gave the hemp industry reasons to hope for relaxed regulations during a congressional hearing.
• The Hemp Industries Association and President Joy Beckerman have mutually decided to part ways.

CBD News Stories

1. USDA Secretary Gives Hemp Supporters Hope for Relaxed Regulations
2. Hemp Industries Association Parts Ways with President

USDA Secretary Gives Hemp Supporters Hope for Relaxed Regulations

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue gave stakeholders in the hemp industry hope for relaxed regulations during a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) asked Perdue if the interim final rule for hemp could be considered a draft or final plan.

If considered a final plan, the regulations would only allow states—which have expressed concern with the federal rules—to operate under the provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill for one more year.

“I would functionally say it’s a draft plan,” said Perdue. “This is a very unique crop, as you know. We were learning as we were going, and we tried to nail it best we could.”

Perdue added that he “will be absolutely as flexible as the law allows” if the final rule in 2021 cannot resolve state concerns.

The agency’s goal was to have all the states “under the federal umbrella” for the 2020 growing season, Perdue said, but he understood why states chose not to submit hemp plans.

Hemp supporters have mentioned a few major concerns, including the THC level for negligence and requirements for lab testing.

The USDA displayed its flexibility when it delayed requirements for lab testing, such as requiring that hemp samples be sent to DEA-registered labs.

Perdue’s comments also give states another growing season to use the 2014 rules.

The secretary also indicated that the Drug Enforcement Administration was responsible for some of the restrictive regulations in the rules.

“You may also know in the regulations we had some pushback from DEA, that really didn’t like the whole program to begin with,” Perdue said.

The final rule on hemp is expected sometime in 2021.

Hemp Industries Association Parts Ways with President

The Hemp Industries Association (HIA) has mutually parted ways with President Joy Beckerman.

HIA Vice President Rick Trojan will be assuming presidential duties until a new president is elected.

“Joy has been an immense asset to the HIA and the hemp industry in general. We are all grateful for her efforts and leadership,” said Trojan in a press release. “However, when she outlined her time constraints and many responsibilities with other organizations it became clear that the HIA needed a change; not only to ensure the cohesive execution of our upcoming initiatives but also so Joy can focus on her other endeavors.”

Beckerman is the Regulatory Officer & Industry Liaison for Elixinol, the Founder and Principal Consultant at Hemp Ace International, the Vice President of the US Hemp Authority, and the Executive Vice President of the US Hemp Roundtable.

According to Hemp Industry Daily, Beckerman told the publication she was “surprised and confused by the press release” because she “didn’t outline anything for anyone’s consideration, for anyone’s permission.”

Trojan said the association is moving towards post-prohibition strategies, such as focusing on banking regulations and digital marketing.

The HIA was established in 1994 with the mission “to advance the hemp economy and educate the market for the benefit of our members, the public, and the planet.”