In the race between Texas officials and the U.S. Congress to ban 'intoxicating hemp,' it is now unclear how long products like delta-8 and THCA will remain legal. THCA or THCa tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid present in raw cannabis buds, which means that consuming raw THCA will not produce the psychoactive effects typically associated with THC. However, when THCA is exposed to heat through processes like smoking or vaping, it can convert into THC, resulting in intoxicating effects.
New rules are now in effect for Tennessee's legal hemp industry, with more regulation and enforcement to come. This includes stricter guidelines on the sale of hemp-derived products containing THC and THCA. Intoxicating cannabis is being sold in accordance with state laws. But it's not sold as marijuana - it's labeled THCA, which is psychoactive when heated. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has sent a letter to explain why THCA doesn't meet the definition of legal hemp, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the 0.3 percent THC limit.
To meet the federal definition of hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill, a cannabis product must contain less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC. Testing of smokable hemp at eight dispensaries around the state found that all were selling cannabis with potent levels of the psychoactive THC, raising concerns about the mislabeling of products containing THCA. In the rapidly evolving cannabis industry, distinguishing between hemp and cannabis has become more challenging, leaving consumers to navigate the legal and potential risks associated with different cannabinoids.