2018 Farm Bill
Also known as: Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018
Definition
The 2018 Farm Bill federally legalized hemp by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act. It defines hemp as cannabis with under 0.3% delta-9 THC.
Signed into law December 20, 2018, the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (the 'Farm Bill') reclassified hemp as an agricultural commodity. This legalized hemp cultivation, processing, and sale of hemp-derived products at the federal level.
The 0.3% delta-9 THC threshold draws the legal line between hemp and marijuana. The bill did not address other hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids (delta-8 THC, HHC, THC-O), which has led to the patchwork of state-level restrictions on those compounds.
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See how your state regulates hemp CBD →Related terms
- HempHemp is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight — the legal definition under the 2018 Farm Bill.
- THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)THC is the cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive 'high' associated with marijuana. Hemp-derived CBD products may contain up to 0.3% THC under federal law.
- CBD (Cannabidiol)CBD is one of more than 100 naturally occurring compounds called cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. Unlike THC, CBD does not produce a 'high.'
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