(WKYT) – The Kentucky General Assembly wrapped up Thursday with more than 100 bills signed into law, but none included reforms to the hemp industry.
The lack of action came as a disappointment to some Lexington advocates.
Annie Rouse, founder and CEO of Cannabuzz, says the industry didn’t get the changes she was watching for in this year’s legislative session. She points to bills like House Bill 9 and Senate Bill 229 that drew attention in Frankfort but didn’t become law.
“In Kentucky there were some bills that were moving through the house and senate however none of them ended up passing,” Rouse said.
Legislative proposals
Rouse says House Bill 9 would have taxed more adult-use products, bringing in revenue she hoped would go back into hemp and lower the tax on beverages.
“That would’ve been good to see. It also had some lab language in it that we worked hard to establish that kind of cleans up the market some,” Rouse said.
She also watched Senate Bill 229, which she says would have expanded consumption options for the industry.
Federal concerns
The lack of progress in Frankfort comes as businesses like hers are watching a warning sign from last year. The concern centers on an appropriations bill signed into federal law last November. It includes language limiting THC to 0.4 milligrams per container.
Rouse says if it stands, it could amount to a de facto ban on most of her products.
“I think that it’ll be okay in the end but it’s going to be challenging ahead,” Rouse said.
Major federal hemp changes signed and passed last year are not set to take place until Nov. 12 of this year.
Cannabuzz marks its third year in business Monday. Rouse says she got interested in cannabis while doing research at the University of Kentucky and writing a paper about it.
She says she’s not giving up and plans to keep pushing for changes and take her concerns back to Frankfort over the next year.