Hemp

Massachusetts approves sale of hemp-derived food products

Published

3 years ago

December 18, 2020

Antonio João Costa

Listen to this article

Photo: DR | weedmaps

The Governor of the State of Massachusetts agreed to allow recreational cannabis dispensaries to sell hemp and other products derived from hemp, cultivated and manufactured in the State. Massachusetts is thus the latest state to open dispensaries to hemp operators, giving 79 cannabis farmers and 19 cannabis processors a channel to sell CBD in foods, beverages and dietary supplements.

Massachusetts legislation changes to include hemp-derived products, which also improves cannabis retailers' position with regard to suppliers and the prices they pay for CBD-containing products. Signed by Governor Charlie Baker on Friday, the new law is a breath of fresh air for Massachusetts hemp farmers who felt disadvantaged by state rules that prohibited them from processing their plants into CBD foods or supplements. reported the Boston Globe.

This new framework “literally changes everything for small hemp farmers like me,” said Linda Noel, who grows hemp at Terrapin Farm in Franklin. “Our production has decreased this year and I was not going to renew my license” before seeing the change in legislation. The farmer says that the change has given her hope that, finally, this will be a viable crop for her and for so many other small farmers.

More than a dozen states adopted rules last year to allow CBD and other hemp-derived products to be sold in cannabis dispensaries, opening a new outlet for this growing industry. Under the new Massachusetts law, licensed dispensaries can now purchase hemp products made by farmers or processors licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, but out-of-state products remain prohibited.

“This is a long-overdue solution to an omission in the law that has negatively impacted the Massachusetts hemp industry,” said Mike Matton, president of CBD white label High Purity Natural Products, in a statement.

Adult cannabis has generated more than $660 million in gross sales in Massachusetts since early 2020.

_______________________________________________________________
Featured Image: WeedMaps

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Disclaimer: Please note that this text was originally written in Portuguese and is translated into English and other languages using an automatic translator. Some words may differ from the original and typos or errors may occur in other languages.]

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do you do with €3 a month? Become one of our Patrons! If you believe that independent cannabis journalism is necessary, subscribe to one of the levels of our Patreon account and you will have access to unique gifts and exclusive content. If there are many of us, we can make a difference with little!

Antonio João Costa

+ posts

I am one of the directors of CannaReporter, which I founded together with Laura Ramos. I am from the unique Island of Madeira, where I currently reside. While I was in Lisbon at FCUL studying Physical Engineering, I became involved in the national hemp and cannabis scene and participated in several associations, some of which I am still a member of. I follow the global industry and especially legislative advances regarding the different uses of cannabis.

I can be contacted by email at joao.costa@cannareporter.eu