targets a compound known as Delta-8-THC that鈥檚 extracted from hemp. Right now, processors can extract CBD from hemp. It's then used in countless health products. But CBD can be further chemically processed to get Delta 8, which has mild intoxicating effects.
鈥淵ou grow high-CBD hemp, you take that hemp, process it into CBD 鈥� okay, so far no problem,鈥� says Rep. Marty Wilde. 鈥淏ut then you process the CBD with chemicals to make it into an intoxicating product. Right now, that鈥檚 arguably not prohibited.鈥�
Delta 8 is less potent than marijuana, but can be sold to minors in CBD products. And since it comes from hemp, which is treated as an agricultural product and regulated by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, it鈥檚 subject to minimal regulations.
Rep. Wilde, D-Eugene, and Rep. Lily Morgan, R-Grants Pass, are pushing legislation to study artificially-derived cannabis compounds and regulate them more like conventional marijuana under Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
鈥淭he idea is not putting people out of business,鈥� Morgan says. 鈥淭he idea is to encourage people to go through the lawful path that has the appropriate regulation for that. And that intoxicants are not getting to kids and that we鈥檙e not undermining those that are doing the process right with people that are bypassing the legal methodology.鈥�
Committee testimony from cannabis growers was largely critical of the legislation. They鈥檙e concerned it will result stricter regulations on the hemp industry.
According to the , there鈥檚 little historical information about consumption of Delta 8 compounds and because of their subtle difference from other CBD products, it鈥檚 hard for consumers to know what they鈥檙e buying.
鈥淚f you want to grow hemp for food or fiber, that鈥檚 fine. That鈥檚 what ODA鈥檚 licensing process is for,鈥� Wilde says. 鈥淚f you want to grow things for intoxicating chemicals, and process them into intoxicating chemicals, that鈥檚 an OLCC process.鈥�
