The bill aims to regulate hemp production and the sale of hemp products by prohibiting the addition of synthetic substances and other additives. It establishes that hemp products must contain no synthetic substances and have a THC concentration of no more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis. The bill also includes new definitions for terms such as "synthetic substance" and clarifies that naturally occurring THC is to be included as a scheduled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Additionally, it outlines prohibited activities for licensees, including the production or sale of hemp products exceeding the THC limit and the inclusion of synthetic substances.

To enforce these regulations, the bill mandates inspections and chemical analysis by the Department of Agriculture, with penalties for non-compliance, including corrective action plans and potential license revocation for repeated violations. The bill also specifies that any person found to be producing or selling hemp products containing synthetic substances will be ineligible for licensure. The effective date for the bill is immediate upon completion of legislative processes, with specific provisions taking effect on July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 11-51-101, 11-51-102, 11-51-103, 11-51-104, 35-7-1014, 35-7-1063