There was a time when hemp flower was made completely illegal, under the impression that it was no different from the psychoactive herb, marijuana. However, decades of research were able to prove a pivotal distinction between the two, separating hemp from its high-inducing counterpart.
And this is ultimately what led lawmakers to sign the 2018 Farm Bill into law. Finally legalizing hemp, this law removed hemp from the list of controlled substances, making it available to those who need it for its alleged medicinal benefits. But even then, there are some restrictions especially in states like Delaware where marijuana laws overlap with the new decree.
The whole issue of being able to smoke raw hemp flower comes from the fact that it looks and smells exactly like marijuana. Between these two herbs, the only difference is that hemp doesn’t have copious amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. This psychoactive compound is what causes the feeling of a high when using marijuana.
According to the law, for a cannabis harvest to be considered hemp, it should contain no more than 0.3% THC. If the plant contains more than that, then it legally qualifies as marijuana, which is considered illegal in various states. Other than this, there is no way to tell the two herbs apart since they both come from the cannabis plant.
That said, law enforcement officers have trouble penalizing marijuana law violators since the availability of hemp makes it difficult to tell whether a suspected offender is simply using raw flower. In most cases, officers are forced to confiscate samples instead so they can be sent to a lab where they’ll be tested for THC content.
Unfortunately for hemp enthusiasts, this means having to surrender your stash to avoid any further inconvenience. So unless you’re happy to give up your raw flower for testing, it might be ideal to simply keep your hemp flower safe at home where it won’t be on display. If you ever find that you need a dose of CBD while you’re away, then the various other forms of hemp might come in handy.
Many vendors sell products called edibles which are basically all sorts of food products that incorporate hemp extract. This unique delivery mechanism provides the most enjoyable method for using hemp, and offers buyers a wide variety of options that work best for low tolerance users and for those who want to incorporate hemp into various areas of their everyday routine.
But even while hemp edibles are pretty much everywhere, the FDA asserts that they’re not legal. According to the Administration, hemp extracts aren’t approved as a food additive which means that incorporating them into any sort of food or drink product will result to an illegal commodity.
Interestingly, hemp oils and capsules also shouldn’t be considered legal. The FDA to this date has only approved two CBD products for the treatment of epilepsy. This means that all other forms of hemp and CBD products that are advertised as having benefits for various types of conditions should be illegal. But even then, the government doesn’t seem to be keen on preventing these products from circulating.
Only individuals with a state-granted license can grow hemp flower in Delaware. That means DIY cultivators who want to grow their own hemp for personal use won’t be able to do so within the state’s borders. The reason for this is because marijuana remains illegal, albeit decriminalized.
And because hemp requires specific skill and knowledge to cultivate, those attempting to grow the herb without the required capabilities might end up yielding marijuana instead. So to ensure that all hemp is grown to meet the standard of 0.3% THC or less, only those with a license are permitted to cultivate for industrial purposes.
The Farm Bill of 2018 has opened countless doors for individuals hoping to benefit from the properties of hemp, but that doesn’t mean that everything’s free for all. The use of hemp in public spaces in Delaware could still meet you with inconvenience. And then of course, the personal cultivation of hemp plants remains off limits for ordinary citizens without licenses. Nonetheless, individuals can still reap the advantages of hemp by buying quality hemp products that are available in the state without restrictions.
[starbox id=3]
