Legislation Introduced to Help Hemp Farmers Build Markets

WASHINGTON, DC – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (MN-D) introduced legislation Monday that would provide the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the flexibility to allow hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) to be marketed in dietary supplements. The bill would also require a study and report from the USDA, which oversees the production of hemp, on the regulatory and market barriers for farmers engaged in hemp production. “The last two Farm Bills were landmark successes for hemp, but we are still very early in this process, and growers need regulatory certainty,” Peterson explained. The bill will allow the FDA to regulate CBD that comes from hemp as a dietary supplement, providing a pathway forward for hemp-derived products. It would also identify barriers to success for hemp farmers, informing growers and policymakers of the challenges facing the new industry.