HARRISBURG, Pa. (Jan. 15) —Today, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania convened a public hearing titled “Public Hearing on 2018 Farm Bill: An Update on the Hemp Industry,” bringing together regulators, law enforcement, industry experts, and policy advocates to examine the rapidly expanding intoxicating hemp market and the lack of state safeguards protecting consumers.
The hearing comes on the heels of congressional action and presidential approval of federal changes that prohibit many unregulated intoxicating hemp products. This action places Pennsylvania at risk of being left behind as one of only a handful of states without a clear regulatory framework, but with a cannabis control board bill (PA SB49) lingering in committee.
“Intoxicating hemp products were never intended to exist outside of regulation,” said Chris Lindsey, Vice President of Policy and State Advocacy at the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH). “Pennsylvania needs clarity that protects consumers and responsible businesses.”
“Cannabis and hemp are the same plant, and once cannabinoids are extracted and packaged for consumption, artificial legal distinctions no longer protect public health,” said Meredith Buettner Schneider, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition. “Intoxicating products, regardless of source, should be regulated under one clear framework with consistent standards for safety, labeling, and age restrictions.”
Under current Pennsylvania law, intoxicating hemp-derived products including gummies, vapes, and beverages with marijuana-like effects are widely sold in gas stations and convenience stores without age verification, product testing, labeling standards, or enforcement mechanisms. A Villanova University report found that 87 percent of consumers mistakenly believe these products are regulated, despite the absence of any statewide oversight.
Experts testifying at the hearing emphasized that the federal hemp definition was created for agricultural purposes, not to authorize chemically converted intoxicants. Many products currently sold as hemp are produced by converting CBD into THC through laboratory processes that are not subject to standardized testing or consumer safety requirements.
Federal changes closing these loopholes are set to take full effect within the next year. As a result, most intoxicating hemp products currently sold in Pennsylvania will soon be federally illegal unless the state acts to align its laws with the updated standard.
ResponsiblePA encouraged lawmakers to use the hearing as a catalyst for legislative action that protects consumers, supports responsible businesses, and aligns Pennsylvania with national standards.
Ultimately, if a product gets you high, it needs adult-use regulation.
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ResponsiblePA is a coalition with the goal to help support the legalization of adult-use cannabis.
With 90 percent of PA’s neighboring states already legalizing cannabis and a robust medical operation in Pennsylvania for nearly a decade – the ResponsiblePA coalition believes now is the time to legalize cannabis. We must create a solid social equity structure in Pennsylvania to be prepared for cannabis legalization.
