The Precursor To Hemp Derived Cannabis Legalization

As we have learned in this forum, CBD is the non-intoxicating cannabinoid derived from the cannabis plant. After THC, it is the second most common cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. CBD is sourced from both hemp and cannabis plants. The CBD extracted from the hemp plant is legal in the United States and also in most countries since this type of CBD contains only small quantities of THC.

Under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, the federal government categorized all types of cannabis as Schedule 1 drugs. This included hemp, and this regulation also applied to substances with a high potential for misuse or addiction, which also had no medical value. This act prevented research on the cannabis plant that may have proven its benefits at that time.

This time period lasted until the passage of the first farm bill, that of the 2014 Farm Bill, which defined the difference between hemp and cannabis, the former of which had to contain less than 0.3% THC by weight. Cannabis not derived from hemp, contains more than 0.3% THC, and is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, which is a controlled substance. The Hemp Farming Act was then signed by the president, in December 20, 2018. This act removed hemp from being a Schedule 1 controlled substance, and it became legal at the federal level. CBD derived from hemp is also legal, but is governed by USDA regulations. The individual states make their own rules for the cultivation and sale of CBD as an additive to food, beverages and dietary supplements while they await final FDA rules and approval.