Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele testified on Thursday before the Center for Rural Pennsylvania regarding the hemp industry’s legal challenges.

Steele was joined by Berks County District Attorney John Adams, law enforcement, state lawmakers and industry leaders during the public hearing in Harrisburg which focused on the impact of the 2018 federal Farm Bill. The bill legalized hemp but left loopholes that have allowed the sale of hemp-derived products with minimal oversight.

The hearing comes on the heels of congressional action and presidential approval of federal changes that prohibit many unregulated intoxicating hemp products. Steele and Adams said that many products labeled as hemp were actually marijuana, with THC levels exceeding the legal limit of 0.3 percent. 

“This lack of regulation creates a Wild West situation,” Steele said. “It allows individual smoke shop owners to do as they please, which puts all of our residents at risk.”

He also pointed out that “many smoke shops are selling illegal marijuana disguised as hemp”.

His full testimony is below:

Adams noted that easy access, aggressive online advertising, and the absence of age restrictions have created “a pipeline for adolescents and young people” to obtain these products despite the risks.

According to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office post, the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association supports reforms to:

• Regulate all THC products,
• Establish age restrictions
• Require product testing and truthful labeling

More details about the hearing here.

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Photos: Montco DA