The DEA Doesn't Quite Get It, But Hemp Is Not The Same As Marijuana

This article was originally published on Hoban Law Group, and appears here with permission.

DEA Tries to Define Hemp

If you’re a hemp business, you probably understand the victory that came with Congress passing the 2018 Farm Bill. As most industry players know, this piece of federal legislation expressly confirmed that hemp is excluded from treatment as “marihuana” at the federal level. Importantly, the 2018 Farm Bill also more broadly defined hemp to include references to “cannabinoids, derivatives and extracts,” which definition expanded the previous meaning of hemp under federal law.

Hemp and the DEA

Not surprisingly, the DEA is, yet again, making an attempt to exceed its authority by concluding that any hemp derivative, extract, or product that exceeds the 0.3% Delta-9 THC limit is a schedule I controlled substance, even if that hemp derivative never makes it into the consumer’s hand.

The DEA has published its Interim Final Rule seeking to codify the statutory amendments to the federal Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”) made by the 2018 Farm Bill. While the rule is stated by the FDA to implement regulatory controls over marihuana, tetrahydrocannabinols, and other marihuana-related constituents by merely “conforming” its regulations to the statutory amendments to the CSA which have already taken effect. The rule very likely goes beyond what Congress anticipated when it passed the 2018 Farm Bill.

In its rule, the DEA has concluded that “the definition of hemp does not automatically exempt any product derived from a hemp plant, regardless of the delta-9-THC content of the derivative.” The DEA believes that in order to meet the definition of “hemp,” and thus qualify for the exemption from schedule I, the derivative must also not exceed the 0.3% Delta-9-THC limit.

DEA and “Marihuana”

The DEA further emphasized that the definition of “marihuana” continues to state that “all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L.,” and “every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant,” are schedule I controlled substances unless they meet the definition of “hemp” (i.e., by falling below the 0.3% delta-9 THC limit on a dry weight basis) or are from exempt parts of the plant, such as mature stalks or non-germinating seeds.

As a result, the DEA contends that a cannabis derivative, extract, or product that exceeds the 0.3% Delta-9-THC limit is a schedule I controlled substance, even if the plant from which it was derived contained 0.3% or less delta-9-THC on a dry weight basis.

Accordingly, if the DEA’s interpretation is accepted, any derivative, extract, or product that exceeds the 0.3% delta-9-THC limit is a schedule I controlled substance, even if the hemp derivative exceeds the THC limit only during extraction and processing, for example. 

As stated above, hemp derivatives, extracts, and cannabinoids are no longer controlled substances pursuant to the 2018 Farm Bill. Accordingly, it would make sense that the 2018 Farm Bill also permits businesses to process the hemp plant into legal derivatives, extracts, and cannabinoids. 

Hemp Manufacturing

Before a hemp product is manufactured, hemp plant material must go through an extraction process. This extraction process nearly always results in a temporary increase in delta-9-THC of the hemp material. In order to isolate cannabinoids from hemp, it is virtually impossible to control the amount of delta-9 THC from increasing through that process, and such levels often do exceed 0.3% at certain times during extraction. But the DEA’s rule does not contemplate this process. Under the DEA’s interpretation, a hemp processor would be in possession of a schedule I controlled substance at any given point that the delta-9 THC level of the hemp material exceeds 0.3%, even if the processor ultimately dilutes the final product down to the 0.3% or below, or destroys any level of delta-9 THC in the product.

As a result of the DEA’s action, the DEA has unilaterally determined that when Congress defined “hemp” to include “cannabinoids, derivatives, and extracts,” that Congress really meant each cannabinoid, derivative, and extract must, at all times, never exceed the 0.3% delta-9-THC limit.

DEA, Hemp, and Federal Law

But this is not the first time the DEA’s interpretation of what constitutes marijuana and/or hemp has been at odds with existing federal law. 

In 2016, the DEA published its “Establishment of a New Drug Code for Marihuana Extract,” wherein the DEA defined “marihuana extract” for the first time under U.S. law. The rule defined “marihuana extract” as “an extract containing one or more cannabinoids that has been derived from any plant of the genus Cannabis . . .” and established a four-digit code for the tracking of “marihuana extract.” By doing this, the DEA effectively concluded that “marihuana extract” is a controlled substance and, thus, required a DEA permit. 

However, this rule was litigated, and in the DEA’s responsive brief in the pending litigation, the DEA conceded that it maintains no jurisdiction with regard to 2014 Farm Bill activities. Although the court rendered its opinion denying the hemp industry petitioners’ petition, the court still found that the 2014 Farm Bill pre-empted the DEA’s rule, thereby validating activities authorized pursuant to the 2014 Farm Bill.  

Hopefully, the DEA is simply unaware of this rule’s implications and will correct its error as it has done in the past under similar circumstances. However, regardless of the DEA’s intent or its plan to enforce this rule, hemp processors are now at general risk of criminal penalties. While the rule became effective August 21, 2020, the DEA will allow public comments regarding the rule until October 20, 2020.

Hoban Law Group will be monitoring these associated risks and will continue to publish updates as needed. If you have any questions, please contact our office.

Read the original Article on Hoban Law Group.

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• Original publication: 2020