South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general urging Congress to maintain federal restrictions on intoxicating hemp-derived products.
In a letter sent to congressional leaders, the coalition asked lawmakers not to reopen what they describe as a loophole created by the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed intoxicating hemp products to be sold across the country.
According to Jackley’s office, keeping the current federal definition of hemp would help protect consumers, provide clearer rules for states and law enforcement, and support legitimate hemp producers operating within the law.
South Dakota joined 34 other states and territories in signing the letter, including neighboring North Dakota and Wyoming.
The debate centers on hemp-derived products with intoxicating effects that became more widely available after hemp production was legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill.
Congress is currently considering agricultural legislation that could affect how those products are regulated in the future.
