Rand Paul Proposes to Fix the Hemp Problem

Rand Paul Hemp Bill

Hemp is broken if you didn’t know. But don’t worry, Rand Paul is here to fix it.

Depending on your ideological views – the previous statement was either read very enthusiastically or very sarcastically – irrespective of how you read it though – HEMP IS BROKEN!

But how can hemp be broken? Well – it’s not the plant, that’s for sure. Hemp remains one of the most versatile plants on the planet – the problem with hemp is inherently a legal one.

In 2018, the US passed a bill that legalized hemp. To qualify as ‘hemp’ the plant must have less than 0.3% THC, otherwise it’s classified as cannabis. The problem with this is that hemp also produces THC and in most cases, more than 0.3%. However, Hemp always produces THC in low quantities – meaning that even if it’s at 2%, it still wouldn’t have a significant impact on the user.

Nonetheless, our great and wise “leaders” thought that limiting hemp to 0.3% will ensure that people don’t end up smoking the crops. The problem is, how did they come up with the 0.3% in the first place? What was the basis for this other than political reasons?

These are but some of the issues that Rand Paul, Senator from Kentucky, aims to do.

For years, I’ve led the fight in Washington to restore one of Kentucky’s most historically vital crops by legalizing industrial hemp. I am proud the bill has strong support – Rand Paul

The Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan aims to assist with a variety of issues including;

Increasing the 0.3% THC limit to at least 1% [3x increase]

Fix Testing Requirements and removing it from testing the flower to testing the hemp products

Creating “Seed Certificates” to ensure that law enforcement doesn’t get “confused”

Establishing a “margin of error” when it comes to THC [0.075% Standard MU]

“My legislation will help this growing industry reach its full economic potential, and I am proud the bill has strong support all the way from local Kentucky farmers and activists to national groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation,” Senator Paul said.

Overall, the US Hemp industry is in full support of Rand Paul’s bill & considering that Kentucky is a major producer of Hemp in the US – we can understand why this is such a critical issue for the Senator.

The USDA’s uncertainties

The federal government is still working out how they will reverse their stance that lasted for over 70 years. For example, the USDA gave guidelines on how to lend to hemp companies, only to rescind it later.

They said, “no” to lending hemp farmers relief funds from the government only to say “yes” a bit later when pressured by a group of lawmakers.

What this shows is the clear issue with State and Federal laws. There is a clash that needs to be resolved and will only fully be able to reach a resolution until federal prohibition of cannabis is lifted. Until then, bills like the HEMP act will serve as band aids to help the budding industry grow to maturity.

The Problem with Bureaucracies

Politics is a problem when it comes to things like medicine, food or health. Politicians have been singing the tune of prohibition for many decades and now to reverse their stance means they have to “unwrite” laws that they passed without thinking.

For example, there was no evidence to ban cannabis in the 1970s, except for Nixon’s need to suppress protests. In fact, the Shaffer Report recommended the legalization of cannabis – but because it’s a “political topic” – the ideological evidence outweighed the factual evidence and thus – we had a war on drugs for nearly 50-years.

Nowadays it seems that politicians are not enthused about making a decision like this without properly vetting the issue. The “We don’t have enough research” argument has been used for decades to maintain the status quo, except when cannabis is being framed in a negative or pathological light – then there’s PLENTY of studies.

The point is, that this dissonance between political ideology and facts create an issue where they vote on legalizing 0.3% as the THC limit in hemp. They could have easily had the limit set to 3% and people would still not be smoking hemp for the simple reason that – CANNABIS USERS DON’T SMOKE HEMP!

Nonetheless – the Nanny state needs to ensure “safety above all” but I believe it was Franklin who said, Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

Of course, the quote was used in a different context but I believe it could also apply to the cannabis issue.

Let’s hope that Rand Paul can move this bill into Law in the early sessions of 2021 since many Hemp Farmers are struggling due to restrictive laws created by people who have no idea what hemp or cannabis even is.