Tag: SF 599

No Federal Regulations Yet on OTC CBD Products

It’s been nearly three years since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production of hemp in the United States.  However, the Food and Drug Administration has yet to promulgate rules concerning the sales and marketing of products containing CBD. FDA representative Gail Sipes recently commented that the agency needs more data on the safety of products. The agency continues to take the position that CBD products marketed as either food or dietary supplements violate the Food, Drugs and Cosmetic Act.      

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Murphy Presents on Cannabis Extracts at IAJ Criminal Law Seminar

On September 16, 2021 Colin Murphy presented at the annual Iowa Association for Justice Criminal Law Seminar in Iowa City. The presentation focused on the current legal status of cannabis extracts.  In particular, Colin demonstrated how defense attorneys can defend against marijuana charges involving extracts such as CBD, medical cannabidiol and delta-8 THC.     The firm takes great pride in helping to educate both the bench and bar on emerging legal issues. GRL Law.  We know hemp.

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GRL Law Secures Dismissal of Felony CBD Charges in Polk County

The Polk County Attorney’s Office and GRL Law announce the resolution of criminal charges against Lacie Navin arising from the retail sale of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) in December 2019. At the time of her arrest, Iowa’s Hemp Act, S.F. 599, which would provide for the production and retail sale of hemp products in Iowa, had not been fully implemented. Until the approval of the State Hemp Plan by the United States Department of Agriculture, it was unlawful to distribute CBD products under Iowa Code chapter 124. In late November 2019, Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement (MINE) Task Force officers informed Ms. Navin […]

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GRL Law Considered Authority on Delta-8 THC by Task Force

The cannabis compliance attorneys at GRL Law received a call this week that brought smiles to the office. Apparently, one local task force is supplying copies of our most recent blog post on delta-8 THC to area retailers to explain the current state of the law on this particular cannabinoid.  When law enforcement is citing the firm as authority, then we must be experts, right? We think so. We help Iowa cannabusinesses maintain compliance with the changing landscape of consumable hemp laws and regulations. Have questions about manufacturing or the retail sale of hemp-derived products?  Give us a call at […]

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Retail Sale of Raw Hemp Flower

Is it legal to sell raw hemp flower in Iowa? Yes, but it depends on the retailer’s intent. Iowa law prohibits “smokable” hemp where the intent is to inhale the products of combustion.  Possession or sale of such hemp products is punishable as a serious misdemeanor under Iowa Code section 204.14A. However, raw hemp flower, like hemp seed and powder, is very nutritious.  In addition to phytocannabinoid acids and terpenes, raw hemp flower contains essential fatty acids, amino acids, dietary fiber and other enzymes, vitamins and minerals. For that reason, it can be consumed like any other dark green leafy […]

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THC Metabolites Detected in Urine Following Full-Spectrum CBD Use

The November 4, 2020 issue of JAMA Psychiatry published results from a recent study examining whether the use of full-spectrum CBD from legal hemp (< 0.30% Δ9-THC) would lead to positive urine test results for THC metabolites. It has been often assumed that hemp-derived cannabidiol products will test negative for urinary THC.  However, the study showed that half of subjects tested positive for carboxy-THC, an inactive metabolite of Δ9-THC, after four weeks of daily use.  Samples were initially screened through urine drug assays.  Positive screens were confirmed through gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The results suggest that individuals consistently using full-spectrum, hemp-derived […]

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Record CBD Seizure in Adair County Ends with Court-Ordered Return to Client

Greenfield, Adair County, Iowa.  The drug defense attorneys at GRL Law prevailed again today by successfully securing a court order for the return of over-the-counter cannabidiol (CBD) products seized by local law enforcement.  The estimated retail value of these CBD products exceeded $3,000, which is believed to be the largest seizure of its kind in Adair County. The original basis for the seizure was the erroneous belief that our client was operating an unlicensed “medical cannabidiol” dispensary under Iowa Code Chapter 124E.  Medical cannabidiol in Iowa contains both concentrated CBD and THC extracted from marijuana and is heavily regulated by […]

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New Hemp Testing for Total THC Requires 5 Grams

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory recently updated its policies regarding Cannabis testing in light of the 2018 Farm Bill, S.F. 599 and H.F. 2581.  Under the new laws, cannabis containing less than 0.3% total THC (Δ9-THC + THCA) is considered hemp.  Hemp extracts, including CBD, are no longer controlled substances under state and federal law. The drug identification section is now capable of performing semi-quantitative testing of plant material to determine the total THC amount.  The method of analysis mirrors that used by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.  If the sample exceeds 0.3%, then the substance will […]

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CBD

BREAKING!!! CBD and Other Hemp Extracts Explicitly Legal in Iowa

Governor Reynolds has now signed into law HF 2581 regulating the possession and sale of hemp products in Iowa. This provision explicitly legalizes the retail sale of consumable products containing hemp extracts like CBD, CBC and CBG. Since the passage of the 2018 federal Farm Bill, which differentiated between marijuana and hemp containing less than 0.3% THC, GRL has consistently maintained the position that hemp-derived extracts were nevertheless legal to sell and possess in Iowa without a prescription or physician recommendation. The passage of both SF 599 in 2019 and now HF 2581 sure seems to vindicate us.  Our so-called […]

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