Hemp Laws, Regulations, and Restrictions May Get Easier, Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Study

Hemp may now be federally legal, but congressional lawmakers are still seeking changes to laws governing the crop. And Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) recently previewed forthcoming legislation to ease restrictions on the burgeoning industry while also eliminating a ban on participation in the market by people with felony drug convictions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been placed in charge of regulating hemp since the crop was legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill. But some of the rules that the agency set for hemp businesses have been met with criticism, with stakeholders arguing that they unduly burden the market. Washington, DC — Today, a group of leading civil rights activists and policy experts expressed their disappointment at the inclusion of a provision in the stopgap spending bill passed by Congress that would extend the temporary classification of fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as Schedule I drugs.