Hemp was federally legalized as a part of the 2018 Farm Bill on December 20, 2018. In early February, and in an effort to comply with Federal Regulations, the State of Maine ordered that all cannabidiol (“CBD”) foods, beverages & other products be removed from shelves & that all sales of CBD infused products cease immediately. Even pet stores were contacted & told to remove any products containing CBD. Complaints poured in, and on Feb. 5, Rep. Hickman introduced LD630 in a bi-partisan effort to resolve the apparent misunderstanding among the State of Maine, the FDA, the DEA and Maine citizens.
With a strong show of bi-partisan support from Congress, newly elected Democratic Governor Mills signed LD630 into law on March 27th. The law clarifies that products containing CBD are not considered “adulterated” under state law. Further, the production, sale, manufacture, marketing or distribution of products containing hemp may not be prohibited. The State definition of “Hemp” now matches the federal definition, as set forth in the 2018 Farm Bill.