The 2018 Farm Bill was a game-changer for hemp, a variety of the cannabis plant. The federal legislation legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp, instructing states and tribes to create their own hemp programs and submit them to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for approval.
In the year that followed, the hemp industry boomed. Under the pilot programs, farmers around the country grew the crop to feed the insane demand for hemp. The plant has various applications, ranging from bioplastics, food, and construction to textiles.
On top of that, it produces chemicals called cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) and THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) that have been found to have potent medicinal properties.
One of the largest tribes in the U.S., the Cherokee Nation, recently formed a work group to study hemp and cannabis and any potential benefits that can be derived from them. Cherokee law states that it is illegal for individuals to use or possess cannabis on all tribally owned properties. The tribe is based in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and the state legalized medical marijuana in 2018.
The tribe later revised its workplace drug policy to reflect this change in policy, and to protect employees and applicants who possess a valid medical marijuana license.
“As chief, I want well-informed policy, and the team we have assembled will be a great asset in that regard. I believe there are opportunities for Cherokee Nation, our businesses and our citizens to benefit from this emerging industry. But we need to move forward carefully and responsibly and in absolute strict adherence to the law in order to ensure success and sustainability,” says Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.
Dubbed the ‘Executive Work Group on Hemp, Cannabis and Related Opportunities,’ the group will explore opportunities for cannabis in commerce, healthcare, and agriculture.
The group will study the legal and ethical implications of the growth and use of hemp and cannabis, as well as their impact on the tribe’s health care system. It will also investigate the opportunities that may arise for Cherokee Nation’s over 380,000 citizens if the tribe legalized cannabis.
Afterward, the group will make recommendations on updating internal Cherokee Nation policies and statutes regarding cannabis and hemp.
The USDA website states that 23 tribes have plans for their own hemp programs, and three plans have already been approved, including one in South Dakota, where hemp cultivation is illegal.
“The work group established by Chief Hoskin is a substantial step for the Cherokee Nation to evaluate the changing regulatory environment surrounding hemp and cannabis in areas of commerce, agriculture, and health care. I look forward to working with this team to bring clarity on these issues and to present the policy recommendations that will advance the Cherokee Nation in these emerging areas,” says Chad Harsha, Cherokee Nation Secretary of Natural Resources.
Analysts say the move by Cherokee Nation to arrive at a considered opinion on matters of cannabis is likely to be seen by sector players like Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) as a step in the right direction.
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