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Agricultural Hemp Solutions' knowledgeable subject-matter policy experts keep you apprised of the latest policy updates and the ever-changing policy landscape to bridge the gap between Capitol Hill and our clients.

In addition to our Podcast Features below, check out the Ag Hemp Solutions in the News page — Our Chief Legislative Strategist Courtney N. Moran, LL.M. is often quoted and consulted upon for her thought leadership, expert legal analysis, and informed opinion.

Podcast Features

Hemp Agricultural Solutions: Navigating Regulatory Hurdles and State Perspectives
48:12

Hemp Agricultural Solutions: Navigating Regulatory Hurdles and State Perspectives

Welcome to HempAware Podcasts, where we explore the latest developments in the hemp industry and discuss important legislative and agricultural solutions. In this episode, "Hemp Agricultural Solutions," host Tyler Hemp is joined by Courtney Moran, the chief legislative strategist at Agricultural Hemp Solutions. Together, they delve into the intricacies of hemp legislation and advocacy at both the state and federal levels, offering valuable insights and expertise. Tyler and Courtney discuss the impact of the 2018 Farm Bill on the hemp industry, the evolving regulatory frameworks, and the challenges faced by both grain and fiber farmers and the cannabinoid sector. They also highlight the critical importance of consumer awareness and compliance with regulations while promoting safe and sustainable hemp products. Join us as we explore the pivotal moments in Courtney Moran's career, the shifting perspectives around hemp and cannabis, and the influence of THC on seed production. We also delve into a fascinating case involving the transportation of hemp products and the mission of Agricultural Hemp Solutions in driving legislative changes and stabilizing the hemp supply chain. Tune in for a compelling and insightful conversation that sheds light on the dynamic landscape of hemp legislation and its potential to revolutionize various industries. Thank you for joining us on "Hemp Agricultural Solutions Podcast" and remember to email your suggestions for future topics to support@hempaware.com. Tyler and Courtney look forward to connecting with you! Guest Bio Courtney Moran is a passionate advocate for the legalization of hemp and the benefits it can bring to farmers and the environment. As a senior in college, she was introduced to the potential of hemp through the book The Emperor Wears No Clothes. This sparked her interest and led her to pursue a legal internship at National Normal in Washington DC while in law school. Inspired by the economic and environmental opportunities that hemp could provide, Courtney has become a dedicated voice for the legalization and promotion of this versatile plant. Topics Covered in this Episode Introduction to Hemp Agriculture Solutions Podcast • Host names: Tyler Hemp • Guest names: Courtney Moran • Introduction to the purpose and focus of the podcast "HempAware Radio" • -yler thanking the listeners for tuning in Legislative Framework and Regulation of Industrial Hemp • The details of the 2018 Farm Bill and its impact on industrial hemp production • State authority in establishing regulatory and licensing frameworks for industrial hemp • Variations in state support for different hemp sectors (grain, fiber, and cannabinoids) • Ongoing negotiation about the 2018 Farm Bill and the proposed Industrial Hemp Act of 2023 • Challenges and ongoing conversations about the definition and regulation of industrial hemp Evolution of Cannabis and Hemp Legislation • Legislative milestones over the past decade related to cannabis and hemp reform • Significance of the 2018 Farm Bill in providing a federal definition for hemp and changing regulatory authority • Strong support for cannabis and hemp from various stakeholders and impact on legislative thinking • Primary Topic: Federal Definition and Regulation of Hemp • Detailing the federal definition of hemp and its impact on THC concentration, derivatives, extracts, and cannabinoids from the plant • The negligence threshold for farmers with crops containing THC above 0.3% but not more than 1% • The potential psychoactive effect of THC at around 1% and factors affecting potency threshold Courtney Moran's Involvement in Hemp Legislation and Advocacy • Introduction to Courtney Moran and her role at Agricultural Hemp Solutions and Earth Law LLC • Moran's passion for the environment and conservation and how it led her to work on hemp legislation and advocacy • Pivotal moments in Moran's career related to hemp legislation and advocacy • Moran's commitment to the hemp industry and her belief in making a positive impact on the planet through her work • Primary Topic: Turning Points in Hemp and Cannabis Industry • Discussion about the biggest turning points witnessed in the hemp and cannabis industry over the years THC and its Effect on Seed Production • The impact of THC levels on seed production in the hemp industry • Consideration of the intended use of the hemp plant (flower, grain, or cannabinoids) in relation to THC levels and seed production Legal Challenges and Advocacy in the Hemp Industry • A case involving the US Postal Service and the transportation of hemp • Challenges faced by businesses in shipping hemp products and the use of case law for approval Role and Mission of Agricultural Hemp Solutions • Description of the formation and mission of Agricultural Hemp Solutions • Role of Agricultural Hemp Solutions in provid...
Will the Hemp Industry Survive the Miller Amendment?
58:19

Will the Hemp Industry Survive the Miller Amendment?

On this week’s hemp podcast we discuss a recent amendment to the House draft of the 2024 Farm Bill known as the Miller Amendment, which was introduced by Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill. The amendment effectively bans all hemp products with any amount of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the naturally occurring chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as any cannabis with less than 0.3% THC. But because of vague guidance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Food and Drug Administration, a cottage market has developed for intoxicating products from otherwise legal hemp, such as delta-8. In March, 21 attorneys general from around the country signed a statement imploring Congress to close this perceived loophole, saying these unregulated, intoxicating products were packaged and marketed to children. In a statement on her website, Miller said delta-8 products were being sold in packaging that looks like candy. “We must stop teenagers and children from being exposed to addictive and harmful drugs,” Miller said. Miller is from a farming background and represents a rural district in southern Illinois. Many in the hemp industry think this amendment will have unintended consequences that could shut down the industry and destroy the livelihoods of people who are making legal and safe hemp products. On the show this week, Lancaster Farming talks to two lawyers serving the hemp industry to hear their perspectives. Justin Swanson, a cannabis lawyer from Bose McKinney & Evans in Indiana and the president of the Midwest Hemp Council, says the amendment is bad for the overall industry, citing harm to fiber and grain sectors and genetics. “In my opinion, it eliminates the genetic seed stock that farmers have built, over the last six years, under the broad definition of the ’18 Farm Bill,” he said. Courtney Moran of Agricultural Hemp Solutions is legislative counsel to the National Hemp Association. Moran believes this amendment will have less of an effect on the fiber and grain sector, but still finds the new language troubling for the overall industry. Moran doesn’t see it as an “industry-killing” amendment, as it’s been presented in online headlines. “I would not uses those words,” she said. “It is a major shift from the policies and language that we’ve seen in both the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills,” and if it moves forward it will have major consequences. But she reminds listeners that this is only the House draft and there are many more procedural hoops the Farm Bill must go through before being signed into law. Both lawyers suggest that the amendment has Big Marijuana’s fingers all over it. The legally murky market for delta-8 and other hemp-derived intoxicants is cutting into the marijuana industry’s profits. Also on this episode, we check in with Morris Beegle, founder of the NoCo hemp Expo in Colorado, who tells us more about the June 5-7 European Industrial Hemp Conference and Expo in the Czech Republic. Learn More: Justin Swanson jswanson@boselaw.com 317-684-5404 The Cannabis Practice Group at Bose McKinney & Evans https://www.boselaw.com/cannabusiness/ Midwest Hemp Council https://www.midwesthempcouncil.com/ Courtney Moran Campaigns@agriculturalhempsolutions.com 202-656-7023 Blog: https://www.agriculturalhempsolutions.com/blog Socials: @AgHempSolutions LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/agricultural-hemp-solutions-llc/ Web: https://www.agriculturalhempsolutions.com/ Agricultural Hemp Solutions https://www.agriculturalhempsolutions.com/ Morris Beegle We Are For Better Alternatives https://wafba.org/ European Industrial Hemp Council Conference & Expo, Prague, June 5-7 https://eiha-conference.org/ News Nugs Rep. Miller Votes Yes on Farm Bill https://marymiller.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mary-miller-votes-yes-farm-bill Farm Bill Amendment Would ‘Devastate’ Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Industry, Close THCA Loophole for Seed and Flower Sales https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/news/farm-bill-2024-amendment-would-change-definition-of-hemp-devastate-hemp-derived-cannabiniod-industry-end-thca-seed-flower-sales/ DEA Says ‘THCA Does Not Meet The Definition’ Of Legal Hemp As Congress Weighs Cannabinoid Recriminalization In Farm Bill https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-says-thca-does-not-meet-the-definition-of-legal-hemp-as-congress-weighs-cannabinoid-recriminalization-in-farm-bill/ Thanks to our Sponsors! IND HEMP https://indhemp.com/ Forever Green https://www.getforevergreen.com/ Mpactful Ventures https://www.mpactfulventures.org/
Courtney Moran Lobbies for Hemp on Capitol Hill
33:11

Courtney Moran Lobbies for Hemp on Capitol Hill

On this week’s podcast we talk to Oregon-based hemp lobbyist and legal strategist Courtney Moran, who was in Washington, D.C., last week “lobbying for support for the Industrial Hemp Act.” The Industrial Hemp Act of 2023, also known as the Hemp Exemption, would create a new legal definition of hemp grown for fiber and grain, separating those sectors from hemp grown for flower or cannabinoids. Advocates argue that the existing hemp regulations put unnecessary burdens on farmers because of permitting fees, intrusive background checks, and expensive chemical testing for THC content. Moran, along with members of the National Hemp Association, held an open house in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill last week, and invited lawmakers and their offices to see firsthand the various uses of industrial hemp. On display were an array of products made from hemp fiber, hurd and grain. “We had hemp flooring, hemp cabinetry, animal bedding. We had biochar, we had jet fuel,” she said. “We had the parts of the stalk broken out into different pieces so they can visually see the distinction between hurd and fiber and the different parts of the stalk.” Moran said these types of show-and-tell events are very effective in getting lawmakers to understand what farmers and entrepreneurs are up against when it comes to hemp. “It's one thing to have a phone call, send emails back and forth, have legislative text on a page talking about policy,” she said, “But when they can see the images of the farms, and they can touch the products that are being made from those crops, it makes it more real for them.” Moran worked with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office on the hemp language that eventually made its way into the 2018 Farm Bill, and she said she still sees a lot of the same gaps in what lawmakers know about hemp. “Something that I experienced back in 2016 that we're still dealing with today in 2023 is that some offices still don't know this was even an issue,” she said. Many lawmakers don’t know “there's still barriers to getting these products to market or there are still problems or issues for the farmers,” she said. Moran also discusses the likelihood of seeing a Farm Bill this year and what it could mean for the hemp industry if the DEA follows a recent recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. Learn more about the 2023 Industrial Hemp Act https://www.hempexemption.com/ Agricultural Hemp Solutions https://www.agriculturalhempsolutions.com/ National Hemp Association https://nationalhempassociation.org/ Thank you to our sponsors! IND HEMP https://indhemp.com/ Mpactful Ventures https://www.mpactfulventures.org/

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Disclaimer: The above information is provided as a public educational service and is not intended as legal advice.

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