Before the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law, hemp was lumped together with marijuana under the impression that the two herbs were the same. That’s because they come from the same cannabis plant. However, over time, researchers were able to find that hemp and marijuana are in completely different categories, making them entirely different from one another.
That’s why in 2018, the Agriculture Improvement Act worked to unlist hemp from the country’s roster of controlled substances, recognizing it as a completely separate herb from its close cousin, marijuana. And in states like Maine, laws are particularly lenient, giving individuals greater freedom than what many other states have to offer.
While hemp is legal across the country on a federal level, there are lots of people who feel compelled to ask whether they can smoke it, particularly in public places. The quick answer is yes, you should be able to smoke hemp flower without any issues. But then again, that would be the situation in a perfect world.
The reason why smoking hemp flower in public spaces might be discouraged is because of the close resemblance between hemp and marijuana. Aside from THC content, there is no other distinguishing factor that can differentiate marijuana from hemp.
Now if you put yourself in the shoes of law enforcement, it’s easy to see how that might be a problem. Since hemp was legalized, law enforcement agents are no longer allowed to apprehend individuals based solely on possession of cannabis since there’s no way to tell if its legal hemp or illegal marijuana.
So, for civilians, that may mean having to surrender raw hemp flower for testing which can be particularly inconvenient. Fortunately, in Maine however, that isn’t the case.
Some of the most popular hemp products are edibles and beverages. Adding a flavourful twist to what is considered a miracle herb, edibles give variety to users who want to incorporate hemp into every aspect of their everyday life. And vendors are quick to respond to this growing need.
Today, hemp edibles come in every form imaginable. What used to be restricted to just gummies and candies has now expanded to include hemp protein powder, energy bars, honey, peanut butter, beef jerky, cookies, and yes, even CBD infused water.
These products pass freely across borders, with vendors shipping them through traditional courier methods like USPS without any issues. But are they actually legal? Surprisingly, the FDA says that they aren’t.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, hemp extract isn’t approved as a food additive. In fact, hemp products like capsules and oils aren’t approved as health supplements or medical drugs either, so they should technically be illegal to sell and use.
But even then, it seems the government isn’t keen on cracking down on these types of products. That means that buyers can access, purchase, and use them without having to worry about legal repercussions. It’s also worth saying that this leniency could shed light on the soon approval of hemp extracts and products under the FDA.
Yes, you can whether or not you have a license. Other states with stringent marijuana laws police the private cultivation of hemp because improper techniques can alter the cannabis plants’ chemistry and produce marijuana instead of hemp. But since recreational marijuana is allowed in Maine, and locals are allowed to grow their own, hemp is also free to grow.
Keep in mind though that you still might want to observe certain restrictions. According to the State, individuals are allowed to grow a maximum of 12 immature plants or 6 mature plants. This should come in handy in case your plants exceed the 0.3% THC threshold for hemp, which would qualify them as marijuana.
Although other states still struggle with the implementation of hemp freedom because of the way that it might interfere with marijuana laws, the state of Maine provides its locals with impressive privilege that extends the limits of hemp use and enjoyment. And although hemp edibles remain illegal under the FDA’s guidelines, locals in Maine can still freely purchase and use hemp infused food and drink without a fuss.
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