2018 Farm Act Legalizes THC Cannabinoids

The 2018 Farm Bill, officially known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, legalized the cultivation, production, and sale of hemp and hemp-derived products in the United States.

Under this legislation, hemp is defined as cannabis plants containing no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. This legalization has led to the emergence of various hemp-derived cannabinoids, including Delta-8, Delta-9, Delta-10, and THCA.

Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC, and Delta-10 THC are all forms of tetrahydrocannabinol, each with slightly different chemical structures and effects. While Delta-9 THC is the primary psychoactive compound found in marijuana and is regulated as a controlled substance, Delta-8 THC and Delta-10 THC are derived from hemp and may offer similar effects but with milder psychoactivity.

THCA, on the other hand, is the precursor to THC and does not produce psychoactive effects unless decarboxylated.

The 2018 Farm Act’s legalization of hemp and hemp-derived products has created a legal pathway for the production and sale of Delta-8, Delta-9, Delta-10, and THCA products as long as they comply with federal regulations, including containing less than 0.3% THC.