New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill Monday establishing new laws for growing and selling hemp products.
The state law will be the first formal outline of how hemp farmers in New York will grow, process and sell their wares. Industrial hemp was legalized at the federal level in 2018, and in the time since state governments have found different ways to regulate the crop that is used to extract CBD compounds.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive relative of THC, the active ingredient of marijuana. It has grown wildly popular across the country and internationally because many want the benefits of weed without the mind-altering high.
While studies still need to be conducted and there is little verifiable research to show the concrete effects of CBD for specific uses, testimonials and reviews show people have grown to love hemp and CBD.
Some like CBD products for their anxiety or insomnia, while others seek out hemp products for inflammation or chronic pain.
New York banned food and drink products that contain CBD earlier this year. [1]
“The hemp industry in New York is exploding and with that growth comes a responsibility to regulate the industry in a way that helps ensure its long-term viability and protects consumers,” Cuomo told the New York Post. [1]
According to New York ABC affiliate News 10 Albany, the state government is also hoping to gather a summit for the CBD industry early next year to help plan for the growth of the hemp and CBD industry in the state, which is sure to become one of the largest markets for the stuff in the U.S. [3]
"Given the enormous consumer interest in hemp extracts like CBD, we need to develop labeling standards the public can rely on," Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, D-Endwell, chairwoman of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and the bill's sponsor, said according to USA Today. [2]
The new law contained provisions for “official grades” of CBD products licensed within the state in order to differentiate from other CBD products, especially generics and those from out of state. [2]
2019 saw over 400 farmers of hemp in New York, and 100 other companies are licensed in the state to dry hemp leaves and extract CBD oil from them, USA Today reports. [2]
Sources
[1] https://nypost.com/2019/12/09/cuomo-signs-bill-regulating-new-yorks-hemp-industry/
[3] https://www.news10.com/news/ny-news/legislation-outlines-framework-for-hemp-production-sale/
