The hemp plant is known for its versatility as it can be used in making commercial and industrial products such as shoes, textiles, paper, food, rope, biofuel and many others. For this reason, most people are drawing towards hemp farming which necessitates the need for stable rules and regulations.
Guidelines around hemp farming in the United States have shifted – legalization in the 18th and 19th century, to a ban issued in the 20th century, and now legalization in the 21st century. Since most people have always mistaken the hemp plant for marijuana, the new Farm Bill requires all products to be subjected to a Colorado Certified Hemp Testing Laboratory before reaching the consumers.
Testing sets a disparity between the cannabis plant (hemp) and marijuana. Any product containing more than 0.3% THC faces no legal protection under the new legislation and is considered non-hemp cannabis. The information below gives you more insight into how and why product testing keeps you on the right side of the law.
What is the importance of laboratory testing?
- Facilitates quality control
Quality control is an essential aspect of the food and pharmaceutical industries, ensuring that the marketed products are safe for use. Companies invest in putting up processes like testing laboratories to ensure that the quality of their products is not compromised – either maintained or improved. Like any other product, cannabis is not an exception to quality control. Producers need to ensure that hemp products are free from contamination and exceed 0.3% THC levels.
Like other drugs, CBD products need to be well labeled and meet the quality control standards. For industrial hemp, in general, to thrive in the mainstream, quality control should be prioritized.
- Helps business comply with the set rules and regulations
As a business owner, you want to ensure you follow the law to avoid problems with the authorities; part of being compliant with the rules is ensuring your products do not contain more than 0.3 THC levels. Since most people do not have the expertise to determine the THC levels and other quality factors, labs have stepped in to fill the gap. The trained personnel in labs usually have the scientific background to analyze products.
The legality of state-legal cannabis under federal law
While most states have legalized the use of cannabis over the years for either medicinal purposes or adult use, it is still illegal under federal law, and the Farm Bill cannot change that. For this reason, the advocacy community hopes that the Farm Bill is given priority to govern hemp policy because, this way, it sets a broader reform. CBD products for medicinal and recreational use are not exempted from this legal reality.
The state still recognizes them as illegal products that result in a gray area and serve as an essential distinction for consumer protection. While the 2018 Farm Bill states that more legal CBD products will be available in the future, this does not mean that every product is permitted. It, therefore, calls for the consumers to do their due diligence and understand whether their producer is legitimate.
Has the FDA approved the use of CBD products?
The Food and Drug Administration ensures that different products, including cosmetics, food, drugs, and dietary supplements are safe for consumer use. For this reason, the FDA assesses the risks and benefits of CBD products before they penetrate the market. The role of the FDA cannot be overstated, especially now that CBD products such as hemp oil and edibles such as gummies are high in demand on the market.
Apart from one prescription drug used to treat seizures in patients with medical conditions such as Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, the FDA has not approved CBD in any food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic product. Unfortunately, some producers violate the rules of the FDA by selling and labeling unapproved drugs as containing CBD. The FDA has since made it clear that it has not approved any over-the-counter medications containing CBD. For this reason, this federal body has called out buyers to beware of the unapproved CBD products available in online and physical, and online stores.
The future for the hemp industry is promising as cannabis products are on the rise, and the rules are getting more apparent by the day. Therefore, it is proper and essential to ensure your products meet the quality control standards by getting them tested in a laboratory.
