BY RUTH HILL R.N.
With one stroke of the pen California Governor Gavin Newsom put the medical hemp industry underground into the black market. The hemp products crackdown proposed by Newsom (D) took effect after officials approved the emergency rules he proposed earlier this month. Under the new rules, which took effect Monday, September 23, any hemp-derived cannabinoid products sold in the state must contain “no detectable amount of total THC” and can only be sold to individuals aged 21 or older. Additionally, the rules set a five-serving-size cap for such products. The ban has upended a hemp retail sector covering infused beverages, capsules, gummies, and even topicals, which the 2018 Farm Bill legalized.
“While we fully support efforts to regulate synthetic and intoxicating products, we strongly oppose the inclusion of non-intoxicating, natural CBD products within this regulatory framework. We believe these regulations are overreaching and unnecessarily restrict access to safe, non-intoxicating hemp products by lumping them in with an entirely different class of products. Other states like Colorado and Virginia have set shining examples of how to clean up the market while safeguarding products that consumers depend upon for their health and well ness.” Bill Morachnick, Charlotte’s Web CEO, in a statement.
The governor’s office said the ban will prevent children in the state from being exposed to intoxicating products. “We will not sit on our hands as drug peddlers target our children with dangerous and unregulated hemp products containing THC at our retail stores,” Newsom said. There are already rules in the industry for alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, cannabis, hemp that ban sales to anyone under 21. Go after the drug peddlers not the legitimate licensed medical hemp cultivators.
Other Options to Oppose Intoxicating Synthetics
California bill AB-2223 introduced by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry aimed at helping address the proliferation of unlicensed, intoxicating hemp-derived products in California and provide a pathway to carry hemp products at cannabis retailers. Cal NORML supports this effort and suggested amendments to the bill to protect patients in need of CBD medicines.
Forty-eight sponsors of AB-2223 sent letters of support to the legislature including such names as the Corona Police Officers Association, Culver City Police Officers’ Association and Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of Monterey County. Sixteen sponsors in opposition of AB-2223 sent letters to the legislature. Because of the many amendments suggested the bill was suspended, after objections from doctors, patients, and farmers. The opposition by doctors is surprising because doctors expertise on hemp or cannabis would fit on the end of tack.
Instead of leaving this alone and waiting for Congress to fix the Farm Bill, Newsom in his wisdom had to jump in and play the hero to his cronies and sent the medical hemp industry in CA for seniors into the black market. What will Governor Newsom do if Congress’s fix contradicts CA regulations?
If you are taking a hemp medical product for seizures (Charlotte’s Web), or pain, anxiety or other medical issue inform the CA Governor of your opposition to his unprecedented regulations.
Mail: Governor Gavin Newsom
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841
Email website https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/
Ryan’s Law Update
The Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act or Ryan’s Law, requires specified health care facilities to allow a terminally ill patient’s use of medicinal cannabis within the health care facility, as defined, subject to certain restrictions. Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to enforce the act. Existing law prohibits a general acute care hospital, as specified, from permitting a patient with a chronic disease to use medicinal cannabis.
SB 1511 (Health Omnibus Bill) – clarifies that hospitals must follow Ryan’s law, allowing terminally ill patients to use (noninhaled) medical cannabis. This bill clarifies that general acute care hospitals (GACHs) are required to permit patients who have a chronic condition to use medicinal cannabis when they are also terminally ill. I have to give kudos to Governor Newsom for signing this law. If you know a terminally ill patient who is refused using cannabis in the hospital file a complaint to the California Department of Public Health. It’s the LAW. send comments to hilruth@gmail.com
