We have some important information to share with you that we have recently received from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and we highly encourage each member of CannaBizVA to voice your opinion with VDACS. We also encourage you to send this information to anyone else who would like to express their opinion.
Below is an email we received from VDACS asking for input on a series of questions in advance of the August 9th task force meeting. They will be hosting a series of “listening sessions” to hear responses to their questions. If you are able to make yourself available for one of these sessions, we would be very grateful for that. Additionally, if you have questions regarding any of the information being asked, please feel free to reach out for additional insight.
******************************** The recently passed budget directs the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, in conjunction with the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and Secretary of Health and Human Resources, to establish a task force to analyze and make recommendations regarding whether any statutory or regulatory modifications are necessary to ensure the safe and responsible manufacture and sale of industrial hemp extracts and other substances containing tetrahydrocannabinol that are intended for human consumption, orally or by inhalation, in the Commonwealth. In preparation for the August 9 meeting of this task force, VDACS is seeking hemp industry response on the following questions:
1. What requirements, if any, do you think are important to ensure the safe manufacture of hemp extracts or products containing THC that are consumed orally? 2. What requirements, if any, do you think are important to ensure the safe sale of hemp extracts or products containing THC that are consumed orally? 3. What requirements, if any, do you think are important to ensure the safe manufacture of hemp extracts or products containing THC that are consumed by inhalation? 4. What requirements, if any, do you think are important to ensure the safe sale of hemp extracts or products containing THC that are consumed by inhalation? 5. What items or issues regarding hemp extracts or products containing THC that are consumed orally do you feel are not adequately addressed by the Code of Virginia or current regulation? 6. What items or issues regarding hemp extracts or products containing THC that are consumed by inhalation do you feel are not adequately addressed by the Code of Virginia or current regulation? To collect the hemp industry’s responses to these questions so that VDACS can relay the industry’s responses to the task force, VDACS will host six virtual listening sessions. If you are not able to attend one of the listening sessions, you may submit a written response to me via email. VDACS will present a summary of the hemp industry’s feedback to the task force on August 9. Discussion during these listening sessions will be focused on and limited to the manufacture and sale of hemp extracts and products containing THC that are consumed orally or by inhalation. During the listening sessions, attendees will have an opportunity to respond to each of the questions listed above. Attendance at each listening session will be capped at 20 in order to give all interested participants an opportunity to speak. VDACS will register attendees on a first come, first served basis. You may register to attend a listening session using the links below. Unless you receive an email that the session you selected is full, please do not attempt to register for more than one session. Tuesday, July 26, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. https://covaconf.webex.com/covaconf/onstage/g.php?MTID=e08887b27b42fbda7d11f1937c21dec10 Tuesday, July 26, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. https://covaconf.webex.com/covaconf/onstage/g.php?MTID=e73d6caf17b48f1d9a4c0fe1979a81ce9 Wednesday, July 27, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. https://covaconf.webex.com/covaconf/onstage/g.php?MTID=e48c2425370869dc8a3643561bb49c629 Wednesday, July 27, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. https://covaconf.webex.com/covaconf/onstage/g.php?MTID=ecfdd3ec6be149c8b6fe75b4f272c1b17 Thursday, July 28, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. https://covaconf.webex.com/covaconf/onstage/g.php?MTID=e53f16fcb20a156779fac305aa77d433f Thursday, July 28, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. https://covaconf.webex.com/covaconf/onstage/g.php?MTID=edb93013a515d4c3f7446f2b1cf9b617f
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