Oregon Bans CBD-infused Beer and Alcohol in 2020
On January 1, 2020, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) has banned CBD from being infused into any beer or alcoholic beverage. Coalition Brewery claimed to sell a beer infused with CBD, but independent lab results from KGW News showed it did not contain any CBD at all. The result? The state of Oregon bans CBD-infused Beers and Alcohol in 2020.
If CBD Is Legal in Oregon, Why Did the Ban Happen?
The problem is not CBD, the problem is Coalition Brewery was selling a CBD Beer that did not contain CBD. Although Hemp-based CBD is 100% legal in the United States, the lack of regulation is allowing disingenuous CBD products to exist in the market.
What Does the Oregon Ban Mean for CBD Usage in General?
The short answer is expect all CBD-infused foods and beverages to receive heavier scrutiny in 2020 as the CBD market nears some level of regulation. While the market cannot predict the effects of regulation, it may increase consumer confidence in CBD Products.
Let’s look at major changes in legality in the past several years (despite being federally in a murky zone).
CBD Law Changes in Oregon
Some of the biggest CBD laws in Oregon were either passed through the House or Senate during the 2018 period.
House Bill 4089 - This bill was created due to the Oregon Hemp Farmers Association. Here are some of the changes:
Requires the OLCC (Oregon Liquor Control Commission) to track all of the Cannabis and CBD coming into the state of Oregon.
Any industrial Hemp wellness product with more than 0.3% THC concentration cannot be sold either online or in retail stores.
Does not allow an individual to store, grow or process homemade industrial hemp extracts. This curtails the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA)’s growing capabilities, which was nearly limitless before this bill was passed.
Authorizes the OLCC to enforce compliance from both industrial hemp and marijuana farmers to follow restrictions, requirements, or other marijuana law provisions.
Oregon Hemp Production Laws
Hemp seeds are able to be imported from Canada into Oregon if it is accompanied by the following 2 requirements:
A Federal Seed Analysis Certificate (SAC, PPQ Form 925) for Hemp seed production and growth.
Phytosanitary Certification that verifies the origin of the Hemp seed and that it’s free from any pests or harmful chemicals. This can be received by Canada’s national plant protection organization.
Disposal of Non-Compliant Hemp Plants
If a Hemp producer grows a plant whose THC levels exceed the acceptable range of 0.3% or less, they must dispose of it in accordance with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Community-supported Agriculture (CSA) regulations.
Next, the material must be collected for destruction by an authorized CSA to handle marijuana. This includes a local, state, or federal law enforcement officer or a DEA registered reverse distributor.
The 2018 Farm Bill
The 2018 Farm Bill was passed to help with tracking where the Hemp plants are produced. Technology like Geospatial must be used to show the farm, as some rural locations are not accurate.
Each greenhouse, site, building, or field where Hemp will be produced must show their location. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) uses this information to help maintain and create data that are sent to the local, state, and federal law enforcement.
A Regulated CBD Market is More Confusing Than it Seems
It appears the OLCC, USDA and the legal Hemp industry are all locked in a battle to form a more stable industry. With that comes restrictions and regulations to define a better CBD Industry and examine the health factors and pricing of different products.
How legislation becomes law and how it is put into effect can be very confusing, especially when business owners are afraid of arbitrary raids by different government agencies.
CBD’s Big Problem in 2020
The big problem for CBD in 2020 is the public view that it is Marijuana. Hemp is the female version of Cannabis, it does not get you high but can offer health benefits to support your wellness.
For Oregon, the inclusion of any marijuana product outside of marijuana establishments may prove to be a step over the line of what they find healthy, safe and manageable without having all of the information for how it’s produced.
The General Public is Beginning to Accept CBD
In 2020, large pockets of the general public do not understand that Hemp is not Marijuana. However, we can see public opinion is beginning to understand that Hemp offers health benefits without the high.
An official report from the World Health Organization stated that there were little or inconclusive amounts of toxicity regarding CBD's effect on the body. Reports like this are helping the public accept Hemp-based CBD.
Conclusion
CBD is one of the most contentious issues in the American medical, political, and social communities regarding its escalating usage and inclusion in a variety of forms. Oregon banning CBD-infused beer with no traceable amounts of CBD is one step closer to a more responsible CBD market.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, please contact us with any questions!
To your health,
Greenlife Organics