Did Congress Intend to Legalize Intoxicating Hemp Products in the 2018 Farm Bill?

Seth Goldberg
Seth A. Goldberg

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized “Hemp,” defining it as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.”  The .3% delta-9 THC threshold  distinguishes hemp from marijuana, which remains a federally unlawful Schedule I controlled substance, based on the psychoactive effect of delta-9 THC.

Today, consumers can walk into convenience stores, gas stations, and the like, or shop online, and purchase an array of cannabis products that have the same psychoactive effects as delta-9 THC in federally unlawful Marijuana, i.e., delta-9 THC at greater than .3% on a dry weight basis, but, because they were manufactured using “derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers” found in Hemp, their manufacturers claim they are legal.   These products, which contain delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and other chemical compounds, are the result of chemical processes that convert the Hemp “derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers” into compounds that are the functional equivalent of the delta-9 THC in federally unlawful Marijuana.

Manufacturers of delta-8 products believe the 2018 Farm Bill does not prohibit the conversion of the “derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers” in Hemp into an intoxicating compound, which begs the question: did Congress really intend to legalize intoxicating compounds created from Hemp “derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers”  that are functionally equivalent to the delta-9 THC in federally unlawful Marijuana?  It would seem that the .3% delta-9 THC distinction between Hemp and Marijuana is about psychoactive effect, not about a particular chemical.

California AG Targets Online Sales of Hemp Synthesized Delta-9 Inhalable Products

Seth Goldberg
Seth A. Goldberg

On September 11, 2023, the California Attorney General’s Office filed a Complaint against a handful of manufacturers of “inhalable hemp products” because they contained hemp-synthesized Delta-9 THC and beta-Myrcene.   The Complaint alleges that the sales of such inhalable hemp products violates California’s Proposition 65 and California’s Unfair Competition statutes.   Although under California’s AB 45 hemp and cannabinoids, extracts, or derivatives of hemp are permitted to be included in food and beverages , dietary supplements, cosmetics, processed pet food, AB 45 explicitly prohibits the sale of inhalable hemp products in California.  Likewise, Prop 65 identifies Delta-9 THC and beta-Myrcene as chemicals known to cause developmental harm, and are thus required to be labeled accordingly; Defendants products were not so labeled.  Importantly, none of the Defendants are California residents, and all of the products at-issue appear to have been purchased online and delivered from outside California.  Thus, this action should send a strong message to hemp synthesized D-9 manufacturers selling inhalable products into California.

FDA Issues Warning Letters Against Delta-8 THC Gummies

Seth Goldberg
Seth A. Goldberg

I previously wrote about the American Trade Association for Cannabis & Hemp’s policy paper that called for the federal and state regulation of hemp -synthesized intoxicants like Delta-9 and Delta-10 THC, issued on June 24, 2023.   Last week, the FDA issued warning letter to six different manufacturers of gummies containing Delta-8 THC:  Delta Munchies, Dr. Smoke LLC (also known as Dr. S LLC), Exclusive Hemp Farms/Oshipt, Nikte’s Wholesale LLC, North Carolina Hemp Exchange LLC and The Haunted Vapor Room. 

The warning letters explain that the products at issue are adulterated under the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, because Delta-8 THC has not been authorized by the FDA as a “food additive.”  They note that the FDA has received numerous adverse event reports pertaining to products containing Delta-8 THC, especially such products ingested by children, and emphasize the FDA is particularly concerned about the marketing of gummies containing Delta-8 to children.   In this connection, the warning letters also claim the products at issue were marketed in a deceptive manner in violation of the FTC Act.  

The manufacturers were told to cease and desist the sale of the allegedly offending Delta-8 containing products.  The warning letters will likely result in further investigation by the FDA and a process by which the manufacturers will work with the FDA to resolve the issues raised in the warning letters.

ATACH Calls for the Regulation of Hemp-Synthesized Intoxicants

Seth Goldberg
Seth A. Goldberg

Since the legalization of Hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill, a market has grown  for products that synthesize Hemp-derived compounds into intoxicants that provide a high for consumers.  Manufacturers of such products claim they are legal because they were synthesized from federally legal Hemp.  Because FDA and most states do not have regulations specifically addressing such Hemp-synthesized intoxicants, products containing Delta-8, Delta-10 and a synthesized version of Delta-9 are being marketed widely, and with little, if any, federal or state regulation.  Consequently, such products propose a health and safety risk to consumers, and undermine state-legal cannabis programs throughout the U.S.  Last week, the American Trade Association for Cannabis & Hemp issued a comprehensive policy paper calling for the regulation of Hemp-synthesized intoxicants.  ATACH urged federal and state lawmakers, as follows:

    • Amend the definition of hemp to account regulation for final product

    • Adopt standards for all intoxicating cannabinoids, whether from marijuana or hemp

    • TTB should regulate intoxicating products in adult-use settings

    • FDA should provide a pathway for non-intoxicating cannabinoids such as CBD

    • State labs should be provided with federal technical assistance

    • Retail sales should be limited to adults 21 or over anywhere intoxicants are available

    • Intoxicating cannabinoid products should be regulated in marijuana programs

    • Regulators should adopt uniform testing and labeling standards

    • Enforcement efforts should be supported, and regulations should promote public health and safety

 

 

New York Conditional Cultivation License – Advanced Preparation (What You Can Do Now To Be Ready)

As we noted is our blog post earlier this week, New York recently adopted legislation to allow licensed hemp farmers to grow and process cannabis for the adult use market with the aim to have product available once retail sales are permitted.

While the New York Office of Cannabis Management has yet to release the form of application (and any implementing regulations), that doesn’t mean that potential applicants should sit idly by and wait.  In reviewing the legislation, its clear that there is plenty of work that can be done now. Continue reading “New York Conditional Cultivation License – Advanced Preparation (What You Can Do Now To Be Ready)”

Report of Office of Cannabis Management Board Meeting, November 3, 2021

By Jerome T.  Levy

The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. by the Chairperson, Tremaine Wright, noting that all parties were present and Ms. Garcia was attending via remote contact. Ms. Wright stated that the meeting was being recorded and will be available on the Cannabis Control Board website. Ms. Wright indicated that the agenda would include opening remarks, approval of the minutes of the previous meeting and then a report by the Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management, Chris Alexander. She reminded the audience and the Board members that the law was passed March 31, 2021 and as a result, while some aspects were moving swiftly, much of the work being done was still preliminary. The work has been mostly staffing, hiring new employees and moving staff from other New York State departments, principally the Department of Health. Continue reading “Report of Office of Cannabis Management Board Meeting, November 3, 2021”

Notes from New York Cannabis Control Board Meeting, October 2021

By Michael D. Schwamm and Joy Karugu

There were several outcomes of the inaugural New York Cannabis Control Board (CCB) Meeting held on October 5, 2021. The Meeting revealed that the CCB and the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) will be increasing their staff and taking steps to extend the medical cannabis program and cannabinoid hemp licensing. Also during the Meeting, Jason Starr was announced and voted in as the Chief Equity Officer of the OCM. He will work with Executive Director Chris Alexander in building New York’s social equity program. Continue reading “Notes from New York Cannabis Control Board Meeting, October 2021”

Cannabis Products Liability/Consumer Fraud Litigation and CBD Regulation

Seth Goldberg
Seth A. Goldberg

Yesterday, a California court federal court judge did not follow other federal courts in staying a consumer class action brought on behalf of CBD product consumers on the basis of the FDA’s primary jurisdiction over the regulation of CBD products.  The Court in Rodriguez v. Just Brands USA Inc. et al., 2:20-cv-04829, C.D. Cal., determined that claims that CBD product maker Just Brands’ labeling did not accurately state the amount of CBD in its products could give rise to state law claims for breach of warranty  and fraud that should not be stayed because, according to the Court, the FDA’s forthcoming regulations would not alter the expectation that CBD product manufacturers would accurately convey the amount of CBD in their products.  

The decision in Rodriguez should be on the radar of the entire cannabis industry, as it demonstrates how products liability and consumer class action lawsuits may be brought under state statutory and common law to seek damages for improperly labeled cannabis products.  Cannabis – hemp and marijuana – product manufacturers should be sure to build into their internal compliance safeguards against such claims.  

Relatedly, on the radar for hemp-derived CBD is legislation proposing to categorize CBD as a dietary supplement under the FDA’s regulatory regime for drugs, dietary supplements and foods and beverages under the Food, Drugs and Cosmetic Acts. That bill will be introduced today by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and Jeff Merkley.  

 

FTC Approves Consent Orders Against CBD Manufacturers

Seth Goldberg
Seth A. Goldberg

As I previously wrote, in December 2020 the FTC announced consent agreements reached with CBD manufacturers 1) Bionatrol Health, LLC; 2) Epichouse LLC (First Class Herbalist CBD); 3) CBD Meds, Inc.; 4) HempmeCBD; 5) Reef Industries, Inc.; and 6) Steves Distributing, LLC, in connection with a “crackdown” the FTC termed “Operation CBDeceit” for allegedly spurious health claims. The FTC today followed up that announcement with an announcement that those consent orders have been approved by the FTC in unanimous votes as to each. These manufacturers will now be required to comply with the consent orders, which could include fines and ceasing to make “unsupported health claims” in connection with the marketing of their products. 

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The opinions expressed on this blog are those of the author and are not to be construed as legal advice.

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