Kentucky marijuana farmers urge McConnell to protect $28.4 billion market

Dozens of Kentucky cannabis farmers urge Republican U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell not to “criminal” the sale of products containing cannabis-derived cannabinoids.

Louisville Public Media said a letter from 58 marijuana farmers in the state sent to McConnell Monday, requesting a face-to-face meeting and warned “will be “direct and disastrous consequences” if the law redefines legal marijuana products under the law proposed by the Senator.

Tensions between McConnell played a key role in the initial legalization of cannabis and the 2018 Farm Act, and the cannabis industry broke out in July.

At that time, McConnell added language to the farm spending bill, and critics, including Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky, claimed it would seriously damage the industry.

McConnell proposed instructing federal regulators to set “quantitative limits” for THC allowed in cannabis-derived CBD products.

CBD products that do not contain THC at all will remain legal.

Paul successfully removed the provision before the bill was introduced three weeks later.

However, McConnell vowed to try again. Last week, Paul expressed concerns about the push for a “ban” in Congress.

“Direct and Disastrous Consequences” from the Kentucky Cannabis Industry

According to an estimate, nearly 70% of U.S. cannabinoid products are used in cannabinoid products, which are the $28.4 billion market.

Cannabis farmers sent a letter this week calling on McConnell not to take similar measures in future legislation, highlighting the potential impact on livelihoods.

According to LPM, “If Congress gradually eliminates the final market that makes our crops viable, we will suffer from catastrophic consequences immediately.”

“Any legislative change that pulls carpets out of this market, especially the season, is a direct blow to our farms, families and rural communities.”

Paul said McConnell’s proposal would “completely undermine the U.S. cannabis industry” and ban the sale of CBD products.

The 2018 Farm Act legalizes marijuana production, but defines marijuana as cannabis sativa with a dry weight of 0.3% or less.

This also led to the spread of hemp-derived THC products nationwide.

Cannabis THC poses a danger to children

McConnell specifically criticized the synthetic Delta-8 product, which he claimed is being marketed to children.

The cannabis industry has objected to McConnell’s claims and its proposed language.

They say that most non-toxic CBD products naturally contain trace amounts of THC.

They fear that such regulations could harm CBD products, and McConnell wanted to adjust the synthetic intoxicating HEP products.

Kentucky Agricultural Commissioner Jonathan Shell also expressed his opposition, noting that such legislative efforts would “define unintentional CBD products in our cannabis plan.