The Unintended Legalization:

How Congress Opened the Door to Legal THC Nationwide

Photo by Elsa Olofsson on Unsplash

Introduction

In 2018, a significant shift occurred in the landscape of cannabis regulation in the United States. When Congress passed the Agricultural Improvement Act, commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill, it aimed to legalize the production of hemp for industrial and non-psychoactive purposes. However, the bill's wording inadvertently created a loophole that legalized certain forms of THC across the country. This white paper explores the implications of this legislative move, the resulting market opportunities, and the range of hemp-derived products that have since emerged.

The Legislative Background

The 2018 Farm Bill was primarily focused on reviving the hemp industry for uses such as textiles, food supplements, and CBD oil.