HEMP IS AGRICULTURE NOT A STATE CASH GRAB

Hemp is a natural agricultural commodity, and its derivatives, including THCA flower, deserve to be treated as such. Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp has been legally grown, processed, and sold in the United States with minimal issues. Yet, state governments, influenced by corporate interests and the allure of tax revenue, are increasingly attempting to conflate hemp with marijuana for regulatory and taxation purposes. This approach not only undermines the intent of the Farm Bill but also threatens small businesses, farmers, and consumer access to affordable hemp products. #HempIndustry, #THCA

Hemp as an Agricultural Commodity

The 2018 Farm Bill clearly defined hemp as an agricultural product, distinct from marijuana, provided it contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. THCA flower, a natural, unprocessed component of the hemp plant, fits squarely within this definition. Unlike synthesized cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC, THCA flower is a raw product that comes directly from the plant with no chemical alteration.

Hemp farming has provided economic opportunities for American farmers, revitalizing rural areas and creating jobs in agriculture and small business. This is precisely what Congress envisioned when legalizing hemp. Over-regulating or taxing hemp products like THCA flower would place unnecessary burdens on these farmers and businesses, effectively undoing years of progress. #HempIsAgriculture, #HempFarming

States Profiteering Off Hemp

The push to regulate and tax hemp-derived products mirrors the heavy-handed approach states take with marijuana. Marijuana legalization has created significant revenue streams for state governments through excise taxes, sales taxes, and licensing fees. Now, states see hemp-derived products as another opportunity to expand their tax base. However, unlike marijuana, hemp was never intended to be a cash cow for states.

This profiteering mindset directly contradicts the federal classification of hemp as an agricultural commodity. Applying marijuana-style regulations to hemp products undermines the accessibility, affordability, and economic viability of the hemp industry. It also disregards the fact that hemp-derived products, including THCA flower, have been sold legally and safely since 2018 with little to no public health concerns.

The Risks of Overregulation

The argument often made by state governments and corporate marijuana interests is that hemp-derived products like THCA flower mimic the effects of marijuana and should therefore be regulated the same way. This conflation is misguided for several reasons:

1. Hemp’s Safety Record: Since 2018, hemp-derived products have been sold with virtually no widespread safety issues. Existing federal compliance requirements, such as lab testing and labeling, already ensure product safety without the need for additional state-imposed taxes or restrictions.
2. Harm to Small Businesses: Hemp's lower regulatory burden has allowed small businesses and independent farmers to thrive. Overregulating or taxing hemp like marijuana would disproportionately harm these smaller players while benefiting large corporations and multi-state operators (MSOs) in the marijuana industry. #SaveSmallBusiness
3. Impact on Consumers: Taxing and restricting hemp products would drive up prices, making them less accessible to the average consumer. This would be especially harmful for individuals who rely on hemp-derived products for wellness and recreation, further diminishing consumer choice.

Respecting the Intent of the Farm Bill

The 2018 Farm Bill was designed to establish hemp as an agricultural product, not a controlled substance. It provided farmers with an opportunity to cultivate and sell hemp without the burdens of excessive regulation or taxation. Attempting to regulate hemp under marijuana frameworks ignores this intent and undermines the principles of fairness and economic opportunity that guided the bill’s creation.

States should not be using hemp as a tool for profiteering. Instead, they should focus on enforcing existing laws to ensure compliance and safety while preserving the affordability and accessibility of hemp products. Hemp is agriculture—plain and simple—and it must remain distinct from marijuana in both regulation and taxation. #FarmBill

A Call to Action

Hemp and marijuana are fundamentally different industries with unique roles to play in the broader cannabis economy. States must respect this distinction by treating hemp as the agricultural commodity it was intended to be. Overregulation and taxation will only stifle the growth of the hemp industry, harm small businesses, and reduce consumer access to affordable products.

The message is clear: Hemp is not a cash grab. It is agriculture, and it should be protected as such. Let’s honor the intent of the Farm Bill and ensure that hemp remains a vital part of America’s agricultural landscape.