New Rules in Colorado Rules pave the way for hemp

Earlier this year, in April, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released a paper that included changes to the state’s “Wholesale Regulations for Food, Industrial Hemp, and Shellfish.” Some of these regulations officially went into effect on July 1st, and now the state will enter a new era of legal cannabis, but one that could potentially cause problems.

The state already allows the use of CBD and hemp extracts in food and drink preparation, but these products must now be tested for potential pesticides and other harmful contaminants. According to Hemp Industry Daily, hemp products will now be tested for 106 different pesticides through October 1st. Previously, only 13 pesticides were required for testing within the industry. Products must go through a laboratory test facility – and there is currently only one officially authorized to work in the state.

Hemp product labels also don’t currently list THC or cannabinoid levels, and companies don’t need to list this information as long as the THC limit of 0.3 percent is not exceeded. According to the new rules, information about the contained THC as well as all other cannabinoids must be listed.

Colorado and the “last rule”

Earlier this month, on June 1, Colorado released a revised version of its hemp management plan, which revolves around the USDA’s “End Rule” on hemp production. “With the publication of this final rule, the USDA is completing a complete and transparent rulemaking process that began with a hemp listening session in March 2019,” USDA Under-Secretary of State for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Greg Ibach, stated in a January press release 2021. “One of the key provisions of the final rule is licensing requirements; Record-keeping requirements for maintaining information about the land on which hemp is grown; Method of testing the THC concentration of hemp; Methods of disposal of non-compliant plants; Compliance regulations and procedures for dealing with violations. “

Colorado’s take on USDA rules provides a powerful approach to future hemp management. According to Governor Jared Polis, the revised hemp management plan offers Colorado hemp growers a realistic way to expand operations while ensuring testing is done. Hemp producers play an important role in Colorado’s economy, and it is important that Colorado as a state do everything it can to create jobs and help consumers. “

Lead the pack

According to the Colorado Times Recorder, approximately 88,745 acres were licensed for hemp cultivation in 2019. In 2020 there was a decrease in licensed hectares to around 36,225 hectares due to oversupply. Despite the decline, Colorado is still the state with the most licensed acres in the country. According to VoteHemp.com’s 2020 US Hemp Corp Report, Arizona is currently falling to 34,932 million, followed by Kentucky to 32,000 and New York to 28,932. Needless to say, Colorado so far outperforms the rest of the country in terms of hemp management.

Colorado isn’t limited to embracing hemp through government action. Many Coloradans, including the governor, are passionate about supporting hemp in their state. Officials commissioned Margaret Eversole of Mesa County to manufacture a hemp-based American flag and a Colorado state flag that will be released on June 11 in honor of Colorado Hemp Week (which runs between Jan.

Though Westword reports that this was actually a coincidence and that the hemp flag flown because the person responsible for hoisting the flag “saw the hemp flag on his desk and assumed it was next in line to fly at the West Pole ”. to raise the flag without knowing where they come from. “

While there may be some issues with implementing these new rules in the state, it will pave the way for a successful CBD and hemp industry in Colorado.