Mississippi lawmakers in both the state Senate and House of Representatives approved separate bans on intoxicating hemp goods this week, throwing into question which of the two will ultimately become law.
According to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger, the House approved H.B. 1502, while the Senate advanced S.B. 2314.
The House measure would ban all current hemp products except those with 0.3% hemp-derived THC or less, prohibit the sale of all synthetic cannabinoids, and require that all hemp products be age-gated for those 21 or older. The ban would not apply to hemp beverages, however, and drinks with up to 5 milligrams of THC would still be allowed for adult consumers, under the oversight of the state Department of Health.
The stricter Senate version would make all intoxicating hemp-based products Schedule I drugs, effectively banning all hemp-based goods.
The Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association, a trade group of licensed medical cannabis companies, has been pushing for restrictions on hemp manufacturers since at least last year, but the group has not taken an official stance on either bill this year, the Clarion Ledger reported.
“We are an organization that’s focused upon accessibility to safe products, and we are supportive of any legislation that creates improved safety outcomes for patients and people who want access to these products in the appropriate avenues,” spokesman William Chism told the Clarion Ledger.
Similar bans or restrictions on intoxicating hemp products have been introduced or passed in many other states across the country over the past few years, as the burgeoning hemp trade has blossomed due to the 2018 Farm Bill’s federal legalization of the plant. Hemp companies have countered the moves by filing suit in several states to block or overturn such bans, arguing such moves run afoul of federal hemp legalization, and have thus far achieved mixed results.
State Rep. Lee Yancey told the Clarion Ledger that the new Mississippi push is in response to intoxicating hemp goods that have appeared on store shelves in gas stations, convenience stores and other retail shops, adding that dispensaries are where cannabis should be sold.
“Currently we have a recreational marijuana program in our gas stations,” Yancey told the Clarion Ledger. “You can get much higher there than you can in a medical cannabis dispensary. So those products have been bought and tested and have improved to contain more THC, much more THC than what is allowed in the medical cannabis program. We know something needs to be done.”
The House version would limit the amount of THC allowed in hemp-derived products, while the Senate version takes the restrictions even further. Read More
