A bill proposed in Wisconsin seeks to protect the state’s hemp industry from the federal crackdown on hemp-derived THC products by aligning state rules with those included in the recently passed federal spending bill, Wisconsin Public Radio reports. The bipartisan legislation imposes an age limit of 21-and-older on the sale of intoxicating hemp products, requires hemp cultivators to have their crops tested by an independent laboratory, and mandate that hemp-derived THC products be sold in child-resistant packaging.
The bill would also impose a 10 milligrams of THC limit per serving and would not allow containers with more than two servings
Jay Selthofner, owner of Heritage Hemp Farm, told WPR that the federal ban effectively leaves hemp regulation up to the states and that lawmakers are trying to protect the state’s hemp industry from the federal ban by moving state regulations from U.S. Department of Agriculture oversight to state oversight.
“Being able to run our own program protects us a lot more than not doing that and allows the state to control much more aspects of it than just relying on a federal program that could be conceived as loosely written.” — Selthofner to WPR
The proposal also includes language bypassing the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection before a district attorney or U.S. Department of Justice could prosecute violations of the new rules, which is required under current state law.
The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue.
