Interested parties heaved a sigh of relief in December 2018 when the Farm Bill was passed. The legislation made legal the cultivation of industrial hemp, the plant that produces cannabidiol (CBD). The cannabinoid has been surfing the waves recently, mostly due to its power as a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals. Over the years, users have claimed to get relief from a variety of conditions like chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia after using CBD products.
The 2018 Farm Bill was a game-changer, opening up the market to sellers with the ability to cater to the immense demand for CBD products. However, the industry remains unregulated, and quality control has become an issue. For the cannabis plant to be classified as hemp, it has to have less than 0.3% THC. Anything higher is considered marijuana, which is still a regulated substance. Due to the lax regulations governing the industry, consumers cannot be sure of the quality of the products they purchase, and a lot of companies have been putting out CBD products contaminated with THC without anyone’s knowledge.
A lab opened at the University of Connecticut might help mitigate the situation. Part of the Center of Environmental Sciences and Engineering’s Hemp Initiative, the facility will be able to test hemp for a variety of compounds. The facility will support the efforts of growers, manufacturers, and researchers, and it will allow interested students to learn about the rapidly growing industry.
Since THC is a controlled substance under federal regulation, growers are required to have the THC levels of their crop checked pre-harvest. Michael Willig, Executive Director, Institute of Environment and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, states that as a producer, you ought to ensure that you are not only legal but also that your product is safe and has the level of CBD compounds you hope will be promoting the health of the ones using the product. “Consumers want to know that what is on the label is what they are taking and that this information is consistent.”
Since it was opened in September, the lab has tested samples from over 25 growers statewide, roughly a third of the total licensed hemp farmers in the state. “The rapid client base growth indicates the demand for testing facilities and the university’s dedication to supporting economic growth in the state,” says Christopher Perkins, the Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering Lab Director, adding that the only other testing facility located in the state is at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station which tests for THC.
Industry watchers are of the view that companies like Wildflower Brands Inc. (CSE: SUN) (OTCQB: WLDFF) and SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) welcome the launch of more hemp testing facilities since this will reduce the backlog at the existing facilities.
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