Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs recently declared that state laws will allow for the sale of CBD oil to medical marijuana patients as long as it comes from hemp and not marijuana.
“We received lots of questions about if CBD was going to be regulated along with marijuana and how hemp plays into that,” said department spokesman David Harns, per Crains.
Arianna Welsh, co-owner of a Michigan business that sells hemp-based CBD oil, said her customers are mainly seeking pain relief and welcome the government’s clarification about CBD.
“It would definitely have an impact on a lot of people that are finding a safe way to get that relief,” said Ms. Welsh. “Relief from pain, inflammation, anxiety and sleep issues are the most common reasons.”
CBD oil is also effective to help reduce epileptic seizures in some children, especially those who suffer from Dravet Syndrome, which is a rare disorder marked by drug-resistant seizures that can be nearly continuous in some cases.
Harns said the regulatory department does not know what impact the new classification will have on CBD oil sales, as it had never been addressed before by his board’s licensing procedure.
Hemp was approved for growth under research purposes since 2014 when President Obama signed the 2013 Farm Bill into law. One section of the bill defines industrial hemp as distinct from marijuana and authorizes higher education institutions and departments of agriculture where hemp is legal to regulate and conduct research and pilot programs.
Any upcoming fluctuations in CBD oil sales may soon be irrelevant, however, as Michigan is poised to possibly become the first state in the Midwest to approve recreational weed, which will include industrial hemp.
Last month the Board of State Canvassers approved an initiative to be placed on the November ballot that would allow voters to decide on legalizing recreational marijuana, which would include industrial hemp.
