The ambiguity surrounding the legalization of hemp and CBD continues with Illinois legalizing the farming of hemp and Alabama electing to crack down on CBD products.
Gov. Bruce Rauner of Illinois on Aug. 25 signed the Industrial Hemp Act legalizing the farming of hemp. The act allows for its use in paper, fabric, biodegradable plastics, construction materials and health food. It takes effect immediately but farmers must obtain a license from the state Department of Agriculture and rules for THC-level testing have yet to be made, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Legalizing the farming of industrial hemp just makes good sense,” Rauner said in a statement. “Roughly 38 states — including our neighbors in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee — have allowed or are considering allowing cultivation of this crop for commercial, research or pilot programs. Our farmers should have this option as well.”
Furthermore, Illinois Senate Bill 2298 expands the definition of hemp to include “any intermediate or finished product made or derived from industrial hemp,” freeing up products containing hemp-derived CBD to be sold in Illinois.
On the other hand, Colbert County District Attorney Bryce Graham and Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly, county prosecutors for Alabama, have announced a crackdown on CBD oil and CBD products, due to the illegality of CBD oil. According to the Times Daily, an Alabama newspaper, law enforcement authorities say that anything produced from the marijuana plant is illegal in Alabama, regardless of the level of THC.
Hemp farming would obtain legal status on a federal level if the Farm Bill of 2018 clears the House and Senate.
