IN REGARD TO: HB640 AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES:  Provides relative to industrial hemp

We urge you to consider the negative effects this bill will have on the hemp industry for consumers and small business owners.

HB640 seeks to change verbiage of what is lawful industrial hemp/“consumable hemp.” This bill will change the THC limits set by former President Donald Trump of the 2018 Farm Bill—0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight—to a new “Total THC” percentage of no more than 0.3% by dry weight.

"Total THC concentration" means delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol,7delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, delta-10-tetrahydrocannabinol,8delta-6a(10a)-tetrahydrocannabinol, delta-6a(7)-tetrahydrocannabinol,9delta-7-tetrahydrocannabinol, and delta-9(11)-tetrahydrocannabinol, includingall10isomers, acids, salts and salts of isomers.

This “Total THC concentration” is problematic on multiple levels. The first being that not all THC is psychoactive and intoxicating. Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in all hemp in its “floral” state. This bill adds provisions and regulation in regard to floral hemp material, but by capping Total THC these products cannot be lawfully sold.

Hemp in its raw/“floral” state has many uses while maintaining its non-intoxicating and non-psychoactive properties. Consumers using these products are not looking for the intoxication that comes with Delta-9 THC. Therefore, these products need to stop being regulated as a marijuana alternative. These are different products with very different results.

Most importantly-- capping THC limits to “Total” rather than following the federally set Delta-9 THC levels will only hurt small businesses based in Louisiana. Though this bill speaks of remote sales of hemp products, Louisiana has neither the funds nor resources to stop every online store selling hemp products from shipping to consumers in Louisiana. Therefore, consumers will continue to purchase products deemed illegal by the updates in this Bill. Leaving local companies, and the jobs created by them, left with three options: A. Run afoul with the law, B. Close their businesses, or C. Relocate their business out of state. All three are losses for Louisiana.

In conclusion, I hope you take these issues in to consideration when discussing HB640. The effects of this bill and the implications of the verbiage used will do nothing but harm an industry expected to grow exponentially within the coming years. These products give people relief, and people (consumers, employees, and employers) rely on these products every day.