Today, December 20th, the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law legalizing industrial hemp after decades of the crop being caught up in broader cannabis prohibition.
“This law marks the first change in the federal classification of the cannabis plant since it was initially classified as a schedule I controlled substance by Congress in 1970, and paves the way for the first federally-sanctioned commercial hemp grows since World War II.”
- Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director
Industrial hemp will now be treated like an agricultural commodity, not a controlled substance. The bill also stipulates that hemp crops will be covered under the Federal Crop Insurance Act, meaning farmers will be entitled to insurance coverage in the event that they experiences crop loss. At KOH, we can’t agree more with Paul Armentano when he says “the significance of this law change should not be underemphasized.” The myriad of benefits to hemp use and production will quickly prove to be a reliable and sustainable solution to many of our wasteful everyday products.