Iowa Moves to Regulate Hemp with New Bill

LOS ANGELES- In a significant legislative development, an Iowa subcommittee has advanced House Study Bill 665, aimed at establishing regulatory oversight for consumable hemp products within the state. Passed by the House Public Safety Subcommittee with a unanimous vote of 2-0, this measure grants the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the authority to impose cannabinoid potency limits and regulate the distribution and sale of hemp products.

Under the proposed legislation, the sale of consumable hemp products would be restricted to individuals aged 21 and over, with criminal penalties introduced for those distributing these products to minors. This move comes in response to the growing concern over the unregulated market of hemp-derived products, some of which contain intoxicating cannabinoids like Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC.

The 2018 Farm Bill federally legalized hemp, followed by the Iowa Hemp Act in 2019, legalizing the crop in the state. However, neither piece of legislation provided quality standards or regulatory frameworks for consumable hemp products, leading to what some legislators have described as the “wild, wild west” of THC-infused products.

Representative Steve Holt expressed frustration over the loopholes that have allowed the proliferation of intoxicating products, emphasizing the need for regulatory intervention. Similarly, the Department of Public Safety’s legislative liaison, Josie Wagler, highlighted the emergence of high-potency, high-THC products on the market without age restrictions as a key concern prompting the proposed regulations.

The bill has garnered support from mental health advocates, including Leslie Carpenter of Iowa Mental Health Advocacy, who underscored the potential mental health risks posed by high-potency THC products, especially to young users.

However, the legislation faces opposition from within the hemp industry. Business owners like Scott Booher of Four Winds Farms argue that the bill unfairly targets all hemp producers, including those who create non-psychoactive products for medicinal purposes. Booher, along with licensed hemp grower Tyson Allchin, voiced concerns over the sweeping nature of the bill and its potential to penalize legitimate businesses and hinder the development of small farms.

As House Study Bill 665 progresses to the full House Committee on Public Safety for further review, the debate continues between the need for regulation to protect public health and the concerns of hemp industry stakeholders striving to operate within the legal boundaries of hemp production and sales. This legislative effort marks a critical juncture for Iowa’s approach to managing the complex landscape of hemp and cannabinoid products.