United States: towards federal legalization of hemp cultivation?

Strange as it may seem, with 9 states having legalized cannabis and 29 its medical use, the cultivation of hemp (by definition non-intoxicating) is still prohibited at federal level in the USA. Visit Hemp Farming Act of 2018 was introduced in the Senate to legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp and the oils derived from the plant, such as’CBD oil, by a Republican, Mitch McConnell.

Hemp production has been banned in the USA for almost a century. Cannabis, including industrial hemp, is listed in Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act, alongside heroin and LSD. In 2014, Obama signed his Farm Bill which distinguished between cannabis and industrial hemp and authorized states to legalize the cultivation of hemp for research purposes. However, hemp growers still have to contend with the Drug Enforcement Agency which continues to enforce the federal prohibition law.

The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 would remove hemp from controlled plants. Hemp growers would be able to open bank accounts, which they cannot do at present, and the Department of Agriculture would supervise hemp production at federal level.

«Since the tobacco industry has changed, some farmers in states like Kentucky are looking for a new crop that would support their families and grow our agricultural economy.» presented Mitch McConnell in his introduction to the bill. «And many think they've found such a product: industrial hemp. But the federal government has gotten in their way. Mr. President, it's time to change that.»

The bill is supported both by Republican leader McConnell and Democratic senators. A related bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives. The likelihood of the bill passing through Congress and receiving Donald Trump's signature is still unknown, but support is strong and communication around the project decorrelated from any parallels with cannabis.