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Hearing on synthetic cannabinoids exposes regulatory gap; lawmakers plan companion bill
Summary
House Bill 49 would add synthesized cannabinoids derived from hemp to statutory definitions that previously targeted synthesized marijuana products; the bill prompted testimony that the change is needed to reflect how many synthetic products are sourced from hemp, but opponents warned the current draft could leave intoxicating hemp products unregulated in the marketplace.
House Bill 49 would amend existing statutory language to include synthesized cannabinoids derived from hemp within the definition used in last session's ban on synthetic marijuana products and to tighten milligram limits for naturally derived hemp products.
Representative Marshall, the sponsor, told the committee the bill is "very, very narrow" and aims to put synthesized hemp cannabinoids in the same statutory category as synthesized marijuana cannabinoids that were banned in last year's HB 948. The bill removes the word "marijuana" and replaces it with "cannabinoid" in several definitions.
Kristen Barbour, administrator of the Cannabis Control Division (CCD), said the changes resulted from work by the synthetic advisory council and reflected an effort to correct an "inaccurate assessment of the origin of these…
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