There’s a process that turns extracted hemp concentrate that doesn’t get you high into synthetic concentrate that does, similar to THC naturally produced by marijuana.
The Marijuana Regulatory agency (MRA), soon to be renamed the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Feb. 11 executive order that takes effect April 13, will assume oversight of processing, distribution, licensing, safety compliance and sales of hemp, currently regulated by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).
Hemp growers may be allowed to sell to marijuana processors, who could then synthesize it to THC for use in edibles, vaping cartridges, tinctures or other products already being sold in the licensed marijuana market, based on draft rules proposed by the MRA on Jan. 27.
The changes present new market opportunities for hemp farmers but also new competition for growers in the state’s existing marijuana industry. The rules require any new products being sold using synthesized THC to be clearly labeled as such.
The Marijuana Regulatory Agency is holding a public comment session on proposed rules to increase its oversight at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16 at its offices located at 2407 North Grand River Avenue in Lansing. The meeting will also be broadcast online using Zoom at this link with the passcode: “100616.” Public comment during the meeting is restricted to in-person attendees, but the MRA is accepting written comments sent by email to MRA-legal@michigan.gov until 5 p.m. on Feb. 16. [Read more at MLive.com]
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