Hemp restrictions could change product availability in Michigan stores

New federal restrictions on hemp could soon change which products consumers can find on store shelves in Michigan. The changes come as the Trump administration delayed the effective date of new hemp restrictions tied to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the federal Farm Bill. The restrictions were originally set to take effect Nov. 12 but are now expected to take effect Dec. 11.

The new rules would change the federal definition of hemp by using total THC instead of only delta‑9 THC when determining whether a product qualifies as hemp. One local cannabis shop in Ionia County says the changes could ultimately benefit consumers by creating clearer standards around testing and labeling. “There’s a lot of these products floating around the whole country and their point of origin isn’t always known, but they end up in our communities,” said Ian Miller, co‑general manager of Easton Craft Cannabis.

Miller said he was concerned when he first saw the federal Farm Bill’s definition of hemp and what it could mean for consumers. Under the Farm Bill’s definition, cannabis products containing more than 0.3% delta‑9 THC are generally classified as marijuana, while products at or below that threshold are classified as hemp. Miller said that distinction allows some hemp products to be similar to those sold at licensed cannabis retailers, while not being subject to the same regulatory requirements.

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