| Major implications for the hemp-derived cannabinoid industry—and even for the hemp fiber and grain markets as it relates to THC testing—are taking shape as U.S. House Agriculture Committee members amend the 2024 Farm Bill legislation this month. Under an amendment put forward by Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., not only would products containing intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC be banned under federal law, but the legal definition for hemp would be altered to include tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) when calculating total THC on a dry-weight basis. This means hemp will be held to stricter testing standards for the 0.3% THC threshold that separates hemp from cannabis. The potentially devastating impacts of these changes, as reported by Editorial Director Noelle Skodzinski, led Cannabis Business Times’ top 10 most-read articles this month. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice’s decision to follow through on a recommendation to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III drug—news that broke in late April—spilled over as CBT’s No. 2 traffic driver in May. Rescheduling follow-ups on frequently asked questions, future implications, and Biden’s announcement of the White House’s review process also landed in the top 10. Other articles readers engaged with most this month included those that covered where all 100 U.S. Senators stand on the SAFER Banking Act, the 47 Ohio localities that have enacted cannabis moratorium ahead of adult-use sales, and the reintroduction of a Senate bill to federally legalize cannabis.
Catch Up on The Top 10 Stories From May | 
