Grabbed hemp THC gummies or seltzers at a gas station on a road trip? Read on.
The background: the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp products with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. That opened the door to intoxicating hemp products sold nationwide. Late last year, Congress changed the definition of hemp so that, once the new rule kicks in, only products with no more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container stay federally legal. That would rule out most of today's intoxicating hemp products.
The new wrinkle: according to Marijuana Moment, a funding bill signed last month pushed the start date for most products from Nov. 12 to Dec. 11, giving Congress more time to write regulations. Synthetic cannabinoids that can't be naturally produced by the cannabis plant still face the Nov. 12 date. Meanwhile, the Marijuana Policy Project is urging Congress to regulate these products, with potency limits, testing, labeling and a 21+ age limit, instead of banning them.
What it means for travelers:
- What you can buy on the shelf may change quickly after Dec. 11 unless Congress acts.
- Many states already have their own hemp rules, so check before you cross state lines.
- Hemp THC can still make you impaired. Never drive after using it.