Chris Fonce, president of the U.S. Hemp Authority (USHA), recognized the need to go beyond its initial CBD-focused standards and recently led the development of this new certification to address emerging hemp-derived products such as delta-8 THC.
Fonce explained that USHA initially did not include these types of products in its certification, but after advocating for their inclusion to ensure consumer safety, he was asked to lead the development of this new certification standard.
The response from the industry has been overwhelmingly positive, he said, with manufacturers, sellers, regulators, senators and Congress members embracing the initiative. Lobbyists have also welcomed the USHA standard, as it provides a framework to address concerns around marketing, labeling and product quality.
When asked about what he anticipates for the upcoming Trump Administration’s approach to hemp, Fonce said it’s a wild card:
“There's a lot of differing opinions internally on what we think is going to happen, and frankly, I think it's kind of a wild card to some extent. I think there's a solid argument that things are going to be actually really good for the hemp industry under this [Trump] administration and having full control over the House, and there's a solid argument that it's not going to be good for industry. And both sides really have merit to the conversation piece, so for myself, I'm remaining optimistic, as I think we'll likely see some positive progress about this.”
To hear more on what we could expect, what is included in USHA’s new certification program and how the legal landscape for hemp products continues to evolve, listen to the Nutracast.
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