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Lawmakers OK Bills To Expand Access to CBD, THC-A Oils

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In the final weeks of its 2019 session, the General Assembly passed three bills that would help people using cannabis-derived medications.

On Saturday, the House and Senate gave final approval to a bill allowing students who have proper documentation to use CBD oil and THC-A oil at school.

SB 1632, sponsored by Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Richmond, would prohibit schools from suspending or expelling a student for using CBD or THC-A oil with valid permission. The bill also would protect school nurses from prosecution of possessing and distributing the oils in accordance with school board policy.

Earlier in the month, legislators passed:

  • SB 1557, introduced by Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico. It would allow physician assistants and licensed nurse practitioners to write a certification for cannabidiol oil and THC-A oil.
  • SB 1719, filed by Sen. David Marsden, D-Fairfax. It would allow patients receiving CBD or THC-A oil to designate a registered agent to pick up the medication on their behalf.

Dunnavant, the only physician in the Virginia Senate, has been an advocate for expanding access to medical cannabis.

“Allowing nurse practitioners to make treatment available will shorten the wait time and suffering for patients dealing with pain,” Dunnavant stated in support of SB 1557. “It is an effective way for physicians to offer low-cost and low risk remedies to their patients.”

Dunnavant hopes that expanding the use of cannabis-derived medications will help combat the growing opioid crisis.

“Overdose deaths related to prescribed opiates have decreased by 25 percent in states where medical marijuana programs are available. The potential side effects and risks of medically administered CBD and THC-A are far lower than opiates and many pharmaceutical drugs currently requiring a doctor’s prescription,” Dunnavant’s website states.

CBD, or cannabidiol, and THC-A, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, are two of the main compounds in the cannabis sativa plant.

Both components interact with cannabinoid receptors in the body that affect mood, pain, and memory. Neither contain the properties that produce a high. When raw, TCH-A has no psychoactive effects; only when burned does it become THC. Hemp, also a cannabis plant, is more widely used for CBD oil for its very low level of THC.

CBD and THC-A oils are used by many people to treat anxiety, migraines, nausea and other health problems. THC-A oils can achieve the same results as CBD oil but are less potent.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not endorse any CBD or THC-A medication with the exception of Epidiolex, used to treat seizures from two rare forms of epilepsy. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says it will support further research by the FDA into different components of cannabis.

“DEA will continue to support sound and scientific research that promotes legitimate therapeutic uses for FDA-approved constituent components of cannabis, consistent with federal law,” said Acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon in a press release.

Virginia has moved slowly in allowing access to medical cannabis.

In 2015, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing CBD and THC-A oils only for the treatment of intractable epilepsy. Last year, lawmakers passed a bill sponsored by Dunnavant authorizing medical practitioners to recommend the oils to treat or ease the symptoms of any diagnosed disease or condition.

By expanding the definition of practitioner to include nurses, SB 1557 would make it even easier for Virginians to use the medical treatment.

“Expanding the availability of effective treatment options is both compassionate and practical,” Dunnavant said.

Written by Serena Fischer and Ben Burstein, Capital News Service. Photo by Demi Pradolin, from Unsplash.

Quick Uproar Leads To Slow Defeat For Abortion-Rights Bill

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Delegate Kathy Tran’s controversial attempt to ease restrictions on late-term abortions in Virginia was defeated in the General Assembly. But President Trump is still campaigning against it.

At one point last month, it seemed like third-trimester abortions, and their legality in Virginia, would be the controversy that dominated the state’s political discourse at the start of 2019. Of course, the tempest initially stirred up by 42nd District Delegate Kathy Tran’s HB 2491, a bill intended to ease some of the regulations the state currently has on second and third-trimester abortions, was quickly overtaken by the uproar over the state’s executive branch.

However, the quick progression of the news cycle meant that the first impressions around Tran’s bill were the ones that stuck. The fact that most of those were created by negative right-wing backlash is sure to impact reproductive rights in Virginia over the coming years. And as a closer look at Tran’s bill, and the events and discourse that surrounded it, shows us, there’s a lot about this controversial issue that is still not well understood.

Here’s what happened. At the beginning of this year’s General Assembly session, Delegate Kathy Tran introduced HB 2491, a bill designed to “eliminate certain requirements” around abortions in Virginia. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later that the internet erupted, after a widely-circulated video showed Tran responding affirmatively to a question from a Republican delegate asking if women would be able to receive an abortion while they were in labor.

The video quickly sparked debate at the national level.

“Democrats have reached a new and disgusting low,” a press release from the National Republican Congressional Committee read. “They have a presented a bill that would allow killing a baby AFTER he or she is born.”

President Trump similarly criticized the bill – and similar legislation in New York – during his State of the Union address. Trump’s criticisms addressed comments made during an interview about the bill by Governor Ralph Northam, comments that only further inflamed anti-abortion activists.

“Then we had the case of the governor of Virginia where he basically stated he would execute a baby after birth,” Trump said. “To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking the Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother’s womb.”

Regardless of the controversy, the facts indicate that late term abortion is incredibly rare.

There have only been two third-trimester abortions in Virginia since 2000, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. Additionally, a new poll from The Washington Post reports that about 6 in 10 adult Virginians support third trimester abortion in cases where the mother’s health is at risk.

The furor over the bill has led to charges that the bill “would legalize abortion up to birth,” and even that it would legalize infanticide. However, when one reads the language present in the bill, it becomes clear that it does none of those things.

Here’s what HB 2491 would do:

  • Remove the requirement that second-trimester abortions be performed in a hospital.
  • Reduce the required number of physicians to sign off on a third-trimester abortion from three to one.
  • Eliminate language that requires for the health of a woman to be “substantially and irremediably” impacted for her to receive an abortion.

If the bill were passed, the provision in the Code of Virginia would allow for a third-trimester abortion, provided that, among other conditions, “the physician certifies and so enters in the hospital record of the woman, that in the physician’s medical opinion… the continuation of the pregnancy is likely to result in the death of the woman, or impair the mental or physical health of the woman.”

This last provision has been a bone of contention in right-wing circles, with many criticizing the fact that Tran’s bill would allow for women’s mental health to be a determining factor in the decision to allow an abortion. Many of the criticisms mirrored a line John McCain used in a 2008 debate with then-Senator Barack Obama.

Responding to Obama saying that any late-term abortion ban would have to include an exemption for situations in which the life or health of the mother was included, McCain responded, “Health of the mother… that’s been stretched by the pro-abortion movement in America to mean almost anything.”

Similar phrasing showed up in the discussion of Tran’s bill by multiple conservative outlets. Using a Master And Commander analogy, Madeleine Kearns wrote in the National Review, “Saying late-term abortion is okay when there’s risk of ‘the death of the woman’ or if the birth would ‘impair the mental or physical health of the woman’ is kind of like saying that cutting the man on the mast loose is okay if they’ll all drown or if he’ll contribute to the depletion of sea biscuits.”

On the same subject, RedState contributor streiff wrote, “Subsequent decisions have specified that ‘health’ includes mental health and that is a totally subjective judgment and, as far as I can tell, there has yet to be a case where an abortionist failed to collect their check due to one of them deciding that the woman’s life or health would not be damaged. It just doesn’t happen.”

Here’s what HB 2491 would not do:

  • Advocate for infanticide — which is covered by a different section of the Code Of Virginia than the ones HB 2491 would address, and remains a Class 4 felony regardless of whether HB 2491 passes or not.

Tran has since asserted that she misspoke in the video that went viral, and that a live birth, not an abortion, would happen during labor. “I wish that I was quicker on my feet and I wish that I was able to be more agile in that moment,” she told the Washington Post. “And I misspoke, and I really regret that.”

Tran said in a video statement posted to her Facebook page after the furor erupted that she knew and had heard from women who were faced with the decision of whether to have an abortion.

“That’s why I introduced a bill to repeal the medically unnecessary and unduly burdensome barriers that Virginia women face when they’re accessing this healthcare service in consultation with their doctor,” Tran said.

President Trump campaigns in El Paso on February 11; his discussion of Northam’s comments about Tran’s bill triggered furious booing from his supporters. (Image via YouTube)

Tran has been lauded as a champion women’s rights by a variety pro-choice organizations.

“Delegate Tran introduced a bill to repeal medically unnecessary barriers to reproductive healthcare in Virginia, and she should be applauded for her leadership,” Heidi Sieck said in a statement from Vote Pro-Choice. “Let’s be real: the overly-funded, outsized voice of the anti-choice movement is generating a vicious and misleading smear campaign against pro-choice legislation that is medically sound and aligned with the values of the country.”

Regardless, Tran’s bill was ultimately tabled on February 5 by the House of Delegates’ Committee For The Courts of Justice. And even as Virginians have ceased, for the most part, to discuss the issue, Trump continues to bring it up at campaign rallies, saying in El Paso on February 11, “The governor stated that he would even allow a newborn baby to come out into the world, and wrap the baby, and make the baby comfortable, and then talk to the mother and talk to the father and then execute the baby. Execute the baby!”

Rest assured, we haven’t heard the last of this issue. Hopefully next time it’s raised, it will be discussed in a fact-based manner, rather than destroyed by an uproar around a sensationalist sound bite.

Written by Marilyn Drew Necci and Kate Seltzer. Top Image via YouTube

Several Bills Addressing Housing and Eviction Move Forward In General Assembly

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A flurry of bills addressing affordable housing and high eviction rates in Virginia cities moved forward in the House and Senate this week.

Three bills on those issues have passed both chambers and have been sent to Gov. Ralph Northam to be signed into law. Several other measures have passed one chamber and are awaiting a floor vote in the other.

Democratic lawmakers have been pushing for solutions to the affordable housing crisis since the Eviction Lab, a research group at Princeton University, found that of the 10 cities with the highest eviction rates in the United States, five are in Virginia: Richmond, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Chesapeake.

“Every Virginian deserves a safe place to call home,” said Del. Lamont Bagby, D-Charles City. He is sponsoring HB 2229, which would allow localities to waive building fees for affordable housing developments.

“By supporting more affordable housing, we can address the devastating impacts of Virginia’s high eviction rates,” Bagby said.

The Eviction Lab found that the problem of evictions disproportionately impacts minority communities. Richmond has the second-highest eviction rate in the country.

“Housing eviction rates in our commonwealth are a disgrace,” said Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton. “It is no secret that the laws and regulations around eviction in Virginia are intentionally vague and disproportionately target our most vulnerable communities.”

Of eight bills introduced in the House and Senate, three have passed both chambers:

  • HB 2054 – Introduced by Del. Betsy Carr, D-Chesterfield, requires landlords to provide a written rental agreement to tenants.
  • HB 1681 – Introduced by Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk, expands eligibility for the housing choice voucher tax credit to low-income communities in Hampton Roads.
  • SB 1448 – Introduced by Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, changes the terminology from writ of possession to writ of eviction for the writ executed by a sheriff to recover real property pursuant to an order of possession. The bill specifies that an order of possession remains effective for 180 days after being granted by the court and clarifies that any writ of eviction not executed within 30 days of its issuance shall be vacated as a matter of law.

Five other affordable housing bills are awaiting a floor vote in the House or Senate with about a week left in the session. Virginia House Democrats said in a press release Wednesday that they are committed to implementing affordable housing reform and protecting vulnerable communities from evictions.

“The displacement of vulnerable communities is not the nationwide record we want to be setting in the commonwealth,” said Del. Jeff Bourne, D-Richmond.

Written by Daniel Berti, Capital News Service. Photo via CNS

The Adorable World Of Alpaca Farming In Virginia

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Local alpaca farms face their share of struggles, that’s for sure… but being constantly surrounded by cuteness helps make up for it.

Dust kicks up on the little dirt road to Clearview Alpaca Farm. At first, there’s just an empty field, monochrome and cut low for winter. At the foot of a cluster of trees, a weathered metal alpaca cutout comes into view, letting you know you’re in the right place.

But then you turn the corner, and there they are. Black, brown, white, mixed and matched: more than 200 alpacas wandering through a cluster of gated enclosures and shelters. Some are shy, almost bashful; others walk right up. There are babies wearing polyester coats around their torsos and keeping close to their mothers.

“Even though they move as a herd and they act like a herd, they are all individuals,” said Farm Manager Jen Perry. “And they all have different personalities.”

About five months ago, Perry quit her job and moved from North Carolina on an offer to manage the farm for owner Donna Higgason. Through the end of summer, a warmer-than-usual fall, and an abruptly cold winter, Perry learned the name of every animal, and mapped their personalities.

“Because they are prey animals, they hide any kind of ailment really, really well,” said Perry. “They will not show weakness, so you don’t see it until they are truly sick.”

Clearview Alpaca Farm Manager Jen Perry holding a one-day-old alpaca cria while its mother stands close by. (Photo courtesy Jen Perry)

Perry knows each animal so personally, she can spot when “somebody’s just a little bit off today.” She identifies small offbeat tics which could be evidence of a larger problem, and armed with a Biology degree, learning seminars with Higgason, and years of experience with her own alpacas, she gives them the medical help they need.

“That’s really my primary role,” she said.

Not all city dwellers are aware, but alpaca farms dot the Virginia landscape. In fact, they can be found in every U.S. state, including Hawaii and Alaska, according to Perry. And while alpacas are packed into the same mental compartment as llamas for many people, there are many interesting things to learn about these creatures.

What’s more, the way alpacas are classified might be about to change. A brutal attack last year prompted a Virginia House Delegate to introduce a bill which would drastically change the way these animals are viewed in the eyes of the law.

Why alpaca?

Alpacas were first imported to the United States in 1984 from the craggy mountains of Bolivia, Chile and Peru.

“Alpacas were considered royal property, and even if you go down there [Peru] today, you can’t just walk on an alpaca property, you have to get permission,” said Wendy Hermes, owner of Hermes Alpacas, just 20 minutes from Richmond.

Hermes recently sold the last of her alpacas after more than a decade of relying on them as her livelihood. But before she sold them, once a year, every year, she would harvest their fleece and process it into yarn. From there it showed up on online stores or in the windows of boutiques, as gloves, hats, sweaters, throw blankets… you name it.

“Alpacas have more colors of fleece than any fleece-bearing animal in the world,” Hermes said. They sport 22 colors, to be exact, and according to Hermes, their fiber is unlike wool in that it is hypoallergenic and doesn’t need to be treated with incredibly hot water or harsh chemicals.

Clearview Alpaca Farm hosts “about 214” alpacas, according to owner Donna Higgason. (Photo courtesy Jen Perry)

Furthermore, alpaca fleece is often claimed as much warmer than wool, and according to Perry, has smaller average microns, making it softer on the bare skin.

To make it even better, alpaca fiber is naturally water-repellent

“These guys can stand out in the rain, and they can dry in the sun in just a few hours,” Perry said.

Perry even cited a recent study claiming alpaca fleece as fire-retardant. But there is more to alpaca than just their fiber.

“Every part of the animal is useable,” Hermes said, referring especially to their poop. “Their poop is fabulous, because it doesn’t have the harmful nitrogens in it that the horses have, or cow.”

Because of this, you can use it as fertilizer immediately, without letting it age, and there is no risk of harming the crop.

“I have a guy that comes every year and gets like 4-5 truckloads of poop,” she said.


According to Perry, if you would like to interact with an alpaca, it’s best to avoid petting the top of their head. They would much rather have a chin scratch. (Photo by Benjamin West)

The changing times

The alpaca population has seen many changes across the country. South American alpaca imports were closed in the mid 90s, according to Perry. With an approximate lifespan of 20 years, alpacas in the states are increasingly U.S. alpacas.

For another thing, their value has been steadily falling over the years, from tens of thousands of dollars for prized specimens when Hermes began farming to just a few thousand now — though there are always exceptions. Hermes said this isn’t necessarily a problem, just the market correcting itself. A year’s yield of alpaca fiber could never pay off the upfront cost of the animal back then, she said.

“So then it was all based on bloodlines, and people would go to auctions,” Hermes said.

It’s a given, markets are in flux. But another potential change is making its way through the General Assembly. One that’s both legal and social.

This October in James City County, a man encountered two dogs brutally attacking his brother’s alpacas.

“You can hear her screaming. He’s pulled her down now and she’s in the mud right by this little pond here and you can hear her just screaming for help,” Michael Hipple told Wavy News 10.

However, the charges brought against the owner of the dogs were dropped, because alpacas are not legally considered livestock.

According to Perry, wild and domestic dogs are the greatest threat to the area’s alpacas, and Hermes said she would often speak to her neighbors about keeping their dogs under control.

Hermes said she thinks a herd of cattle or other traditional farm animals are viewed much more seriously under the current law, and recourse is limited for alpaca farmers.

“This is my livelihood,” said Hermes emphasising every syllable, “It’s like going into your job and taking something away from your job.”

This session at Capitol Square, Del. Brenda Pogge introduced HB2689, which would classify alpacas and other animals in the genus Vicugna as livestock. The bill passed the House unanimously, and is currently making its way through the Senate.

To keep warm and dry, cria will often be outfitted with polyester coats until they are old enough to handle the elements themselves. (Photo by Jen Perry)

Meanwhile, back on the farm…

Standing in the medical building layered with shelves of supplies, Perry pointed to and explained some of her different medical duties, stressing that the items weren’t alpaca-specific, and any livestock farmer would be familiar with the same equipment.

“All of the drugs that we use are the same drugs that are used on horses and goats and all other livestock,” she said. “There are no specific alpaca drugs.”

There aren’t any specific alpaca vets either. Alpacas are undeniably cute, and they are relatively new to this country, but they are quickly becoming conventional, and they are many farmers’ way of life.

“I don’t go to PetSmart for my feed, I go to Tractor Supply just like anybody else,” Perry said. “A chicken farmer or a goat farmer, yeah, we’re in the same corner.”

“We’re all dealing with the same struggles — we’re trying to find good sources of hay, we’re trying to manage with the weather, so livestock struggles are livestock struggles, regardless of what type of animal it is.”

While HB2689 seems uncontroversial, the Commonwealth and its alpaca farmers will have to wait and see. But in the meantime, things certainly aren’t slowing down for Perry.

“Every day is different,” Perry said, smiling. “I can have any kind of plan in mind that I want to have, and it’s just… it goes to chaos. And it’s a great chaos.”

Alpacas are “communal poopers,” according to Perry, making cleanup easier, but urgent. (Photo by Benjamin West)

On one of the coldest day of winter, Perry said she remembers rushing a newborn alpaca to shelter. Mother alpacas don’t lick their babies, so it’s up to Perry, when the climate is harsh, to make sure the baby is warm and dry, which involves quick action, hair dryers, and lots of towels.

For Hermes, one evening from her days of alpaca farming sticks out in particular. She had nine babies all about the same age, and she watched them huddle together when their mothers were preoccupied with eating.

“And you could almost see one was saying: ‘Well, you want to get in trouble?’”

She said they started running chasing after each other and honking until “they had a line going.”

“And they were running all around the field and everything, and then all of a sudden, somewhere, someone behind the leader would break and take off like a bat out of hell.”

She said they ran in all directions, but inevitably formed the line again and again, “maybe with a different leader.” Finally, the leader of the line wasn’t looking where he was going and crashed the whole group into one of the mothers.

“It was like a train wreck, boom-boom-boom-boom-boom.”

Hermes said everybody was laughing at the shenanigans; it was like the kids were misbehaving.

Ultimately, after years working at the trade, Hermes’ advice to alpaca farmers is applicable to any field.

“Find something it is about these animals that you really, really like, and then do that, and do that well.”

Top Photo by Benjamin West

General Assembly Moves To Raise Virginia’s Tobacco-Purchase Age To 21

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Legislation making its way through the General Assembly would raise the legal age for purchasing and possessing tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21, drawing mixed reactions from young adults who would be affected by the new law.

The House and Senate have passed similar bills to increase the age to buy or possess products containing tobacco or nicotine. Each chamber is now working on the other’s measure.

In the state that gave birth to the tobacco industry, not everybody is happy about the legislation. William Bechtle, a 20-year-old computer science major at Virginia Commonwealth University, believes it would infringe on people’s rights.

“If an 18-year-old who is legally an adult wants to make the horrible choice to start smoking, they have that right,” said Bechtle, who smokes cigarettes. “If they don’t, then why is the age of adulthood 18 and not 21?”

Other young smokers do not seem to view the bills as a threat — only as an inconvenience.

“I can get older friends, people at that age limit, to get it for me,” said Katie Breighner, a freshman at Centreville High School in Fairfax County. “Regardless of your age, someone can find a way to get it.”

Some lawmakers also oppose the proposals to raise the smoking age — but apparently not enough to derail the legislation.

On Tuesday, the House voted 67-31 in favor of its bill, HB 2748. That measure has been referred to the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.

The Senate passed its bill, SB 1727, on a 32-8 vote on Jan. 29. On Wednesday, the House Courts of Justice Committee approved that measure, 9-6, and sent it to the full House for consideration.

If the legislation becomes law, Virginia would join six other states in raising the tobacco purchase age to 21.

The Senate bill was sponsored by Sen. Thomas Norment, R-James City. Thirteen Republicans and all 19 Democrats in the Senate supported the measure; eight Republican senators opposed it.

The House bill was introduced by Del. Christopher P. Stolle, R-Virginia Beach. Forty-six Democrats and 21 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 29 Republican delegates and two Democratic delegates voted against it.

Among the opponents was Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania.

“I have no problem with raising the age to purchase tobacco products up to 21, but I think it should be done in a step process, because there are, whether we like it or not, 18-, 19-, 20-year-olds who are using these products now,” Cole said. “While I applaud the intent of this legislation, I think it has problems.”

Photo by Itay Kabalo on Unsplash

The legislation targets all tobacco and nicotine products, not just cigarettes. A primary goal is to combat the recent trend of teen vaping, which the U.S. surgeon general has called an “epidemic.”

The number of teens who have vaped in the past 30 days has almost doubled since 2017, including children as young as eighth grade. While some may argue that vaping is healthier than smoking cigarettes, many are unaware that one Juul pod (a popular method of vaping) contains as much nicotine as 20 cigarettes.

That’s why students like Reem Alul view the legislation before the General Assembly as a sign of progress. Alul, a biology major at VCU, hopes new laws will help curb youth addiction to nicotine.

“As someone who’s been smoking for over a year now, I know how addictive and toxic nicotine is to my quality of life,” Alul said. “Although minors will still have access to these products, it’ll be much harder to get a hold of it on short notice.”

By Serena Fischer, Capital News Service. Top Photo: Public Domain, CC0 1.0

Ellwood Thompson’s Leads The Conversation Around CBD Oil Legalization In Virginia

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At Ellwood Thompson’s, elected officials and community advocates gathered to discuss
 the future of legal cannabis-derived CBD oil in Virginia. Much was learned.

CBD oil: there is a lot of confusion surrounding its legality, not to mention what exactly it is. To provide some clarification, Ellwood Thompson’s held a panel discussion to clear up the truth about some ambiguous laws, and address the controversy that surrounds hemp-derived CBD oil.

In order to understand CBD oil and the discussions around it, though, it is first important to know the difference between hemp-derived and marijuana-derived products. Both hemp and marijuana are types of cannabis plant; however, hemp has a lower concentration of THC (the psychoactive chemical) and higher concentrations of the non-psychoactive chemical cannabidiol (CBD). To be clear: you cannot get high from CBD alone.

Ellwood Thompson’s panel discussion, which took place on Wednesday, January 23, focused on the legalities around production and consumption of CBD oil in Virginia. Panel speakers included Jason Amatucci, founder of the Virginia Hemp Coalition; Erin Williams, Senior Policy Analyst at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; and Delegate Nick Freitas, a Republican who represents the counties of Culpeper, Orange, and Madison in the House Of Delegates. The panel was moderated by Nick Schroder, a food advocate at Ellwood Thompson’s.

CBD oil is popular for its medical benefits. It is commonly used for treating conditions such as epilepsy, chronic pain, depression, and anxiety. It comes in concentrates, capsules, sprays, and vaping liquids. In addition, CBD oil can in be added to foods, lotions, gels, and drinks.

Tricia Boor, owner of Apothec, a health and beauty shop in Richmond, attended the event at Ellwood Thompson’s to learn more about how current CBD law applies to retailers. Boor said her customers and patients use her CBD oil-infused products to treat a variety of conditions including psoriasis, inflammation, eczema, and the effects of radiation treatments. Although she wants to take advantage of the medical advantages of CBD oil, Boor has concerns about the legality of selling and marketing CBD infused products.

“As a young business, we really want to make sure were not doing something that could be detrimental to our business,” Boor said. “We want to make sure that it’s on the up and up.”

Since 2015, Virginia has been conservatively passing laws on CBD. On the federal level, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp and the production of CBD oil. While the bill does not place restrictions on possessing or transporting CBD oil across state lines, it requires that growers be registered within a research or pharmaceutical program. In Virginia, the production and use of CBD oil is legal as long as the product contains less than 5% THC and more than 15% CBD.

Freitas has been working for the past three years to pass hemp legislation in the Virginia General Assembly. This year he sponsored two pieces of related legislation, HB 2346 and HB 1839.

HB 2346 sought to redefine the definition of industrial hemp and allow Virginia farmers to grow industrial hemp as a commercial product. This bill was tabled for the 2019 General Assembly session in subcommittee on Monday, January 28.

The second bill, HB 1839, would adapt Virginia law to the federal Farm Bill by “amending the definitions of cannabidiol oil, marijuana, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to exclude initial hemp that is grown, dealt, or processed in compliance with state or federal law.” The bill has made it to the full house, and awaits a vote.

“I feel very confident… that once we get out of this General Assembly session, we’re going to have very, very clear lines with respect to what is legal [and] what is not legal,” Freitas said.

Photo by Demi Pradolin, via Unsplash

While the use of CBD oil is legal in Virginia, commercialized production is not. Therefore, Virginia’s in-store CBD oil products are manufactured out of state.

According to Freitas, this puts Virginia producers at a significant “economic disadvantage.”

“I want to move [Virginia] to a place where, again, we don’t put a bunch of government restriction with respect to growing a product that is not only safe, but beneficial,” Freitas said. “I don’t want our own farmers falling behind farmers in Kentucky, North Carolina and everywhere else that already has rules and regulations that make it far easier to grow this product.”

During the panel, Amatucci described industrial hemp production as a great “economic opportunity” and said he is ready to “take it to the next level.”

“We basically need to get CBD laws clear in Virginia,” Amatucci said. “We have a lot of support in the General Assembly on this issue.”

According to Freitas, the “main roadblock” to legislation in the Virginia Assembly comes from the “philosophical battle” regarding the federal government’s role in regulating hemp production.

“I really want to see [Virginia] treat industrial hemp like we would other agricultural products,” Freitas said. “Let [CBD oil] out in the free market. Let entrepreneurs be the one to decide whether or not it works. Let consumers decide whether or not they want to buy the product.”

Top photo: Rick Proctor, via Unsplash