The cannabis space has evolved into a tale of two markets: marijuana and hemp. Despite being from the same family, a line has been drawn in the sand between the two. Hemp containing less than 0.3 percent THC is legal on the federal level, while cannabis remains a Schedule I substance and is legal in various forms in nearly every state. But with this divide has come a proliferation of sketchy weed, despite a glaring desire by certain legislators to keep everyone away from the plant entirely.
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Folks living in places without legal weed are still getting high on a questionable supply, thanks to the powers that be. Instead of safe, regulated products, people are forced to turn to the illicit market or purchase synthesized cannabinoids from the local smoke shop. Many people assume that because the latter is available in reputable retail chain stores, it must be legit. However, ingesting compounds like HHC and THC-P could be risky.
These cannabinoids are made by chemically converting CBD. Alarms have been raised over mysterious byproducts created in this chemical process. There’s no data on what the long-term health impacts could be.
That’s not to say there aren’t good products available outside of the regulated market. Hemp-derived delta-9 THC drinks and edibles are widely available, and many manufacturers use safe, naturally derived cannabinoids. Illicit market flower can also be top-shelf quality, especially if they grow with tender love and care (and without tons of pesticides).
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The playing field would be leveled if the federal government would just get with the program and provide a nationwide framework. People are going to find ways to get high whether the plant is legal or not.
Arguing that legalizing cannabis endangers children and raises crime rates is a farce; in fact, studies show that marijuana reform is correlated with declines in adolescent consumption. And while the stats are mixed on legalization and crime, benefits like increased housing values and boosted tax bases cannot be ignored.
Instead, lawmakers are busy trying to roll back reforms and ban intoxicating hemp. They seek to put the toothpaste back in the tube despite widespread support for federal legalization. It’s a futile process when they could just enact sensible regulations that ensure both low-dose hemp and higher potency marijuana—both of which are technically cannabis—are safe, accessible, and legal.
