The top Republican on a key congressional committee is calling on leadership to schedule a hearing to hold the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accountable for its lack of action to set regulations for CBD and delta-8 THC products. Rep. James Comer (R-KY), ranking member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, said in a letter to Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) that the purpose of the meeting should be to “examine the failure of [FDA] to develop a regulatory regime that effectively oversees the sale of hemp-derived extracts such as cannabidiol (CBD).” He said that the current lack of regulations has led to mislabeling, contaminated products, and advertising that targets children. “We must hear directly from the FDA to ensure the agency has a plan to institute a regulatory solution that can effectively monitor the sale of hemp products and protect the health of children,” he wrote. The federal legalization of hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill was a bipartisan effort, and members across the aisle have since been pushing for further reforms to create a regulatory framework for products that are derived from the crop. FDA is cognizant of the complaints, but it’s so far declined to enact rules providing for the marketing of legal cannabinoids in food products.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 05/05/2022 11:01:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-congressman-requests-hearing-on-fdas-failure-to-set-cbd-and-delta-8-thc-regulations/

A Delaware House committee on Tuesday approved a bill to legalize marijuana for a second time following a procedural mishap that inadvertently prevented public testimony on the proposal at an earlier meeting. Rep. Ed Osienski (D) is sponsoring the legislation to simply legalize cannabis possession and gifting, as well as a companion bill that would create a regulatory framework for the market. The two-track approach to reform is the sponsor’s response to the House defeating a prior measure in March that included both components. The idea is to get the basic legalization bill through the chamber with a simple majority, thereby putting pressure on lawmakers to support the separate proposal that requires a 3/5th supermajority, rather than leave the market unregulated. Key legislators have signaled that the bifurcated approach might work, even if they don’t support legalization. But because of a procedural issue last month—with the chair of the House Health & Human Services Committee approving a motion to vote on the simple legalization bill HB 371 before the public had a chance to testify—the timeline was pushed back.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 05/04/2022 08:42:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/delaware-lawmakers-approve-marijuana-legalization-bill-in-committee-again-following-procedural-misstep/

A bill to legalize medical marijuana in South Carolina died on the House floor on Wednesday following a nuanced debate over the constitutionality of the legislative process that the measure has moved through—before any discussion of the merits of the bill itself could occur. Advocates had already expected pushback on the Senate-passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Tom Davis (R), with opponents filing more than 1,000 amendments ahead of its floor consideration. But things became even more complicated after a constitutional challenge from Rep. John McCravy (R), who raised a point of order against the Senate bill, claiming that because it involves a tax on medical cannabis, it should have originated in the House under the state constitution’s provisions for legislation that raises revenue. House Speaker Pro Tem Thomas Pope (R) mulled the issue over during a lunch break and later ruled to sustain the point of order. Rep. Todd Rutherford (D) then sought to appeal the ruling, saying he planned an amendment to scrap the tax language later, but there was a subsequent motion to table his appeal, which was agreed upon by the body in a 59-55 vote, effectively killing the measure.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 05/04/2022 16:37:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/south-carolina-medical-marijuana-bill-dies-on-house-floor-following-procedural-challenge/