European Parliament approves an increase in the maximum allowable amount of THC in technical hemp to 0.3%
Ukraine, in accordance with the agreements signed with the EU, has undertaken to increase the amount of the controlled substance by the end of this year. Given the lack of a regulatory framework in the country regulating the work with cannabis varieties in which the amount of THC exceeds 0.08%, as well as the desire of law enforcement officials to “earn” on hemp crops (remember the corresponding departmental order, some provisions of which directly contradict several Resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine), representatives of the relevant association were invited to state structures to hold an interdepartmental meeting, within the framework of which, together with market specialists, it was necessary to determine the transition period necessary for Ukrainian breeders in order to create national therapeutic hemp varieties containing THC in which it would not exceed 0.3%, as well as to provide this sector of national cannabis growing with an appropriate regulatory framework.
The European Parliament voted to increase the permitted level of controlled tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for industrial crops of industrial hemp from 0.2% to 0.3%. In addition, MEPs voted to include the hemp plant in the list of products that can be regulated through marketing standards aimed at improving the economic conditions of production and sale, as well as the quality of agricultural products.
The adoption of the above-mentioned normative legal act by the European Parliament is a serious stage in the negotiations between the European Council and the European Commission during the tripartite meetings, which are an integral part of the adoption of EU legislation.
The inclusion of hemp in the product list implies the creation of appropriate rules regarding technical definitions, labeling, packaging, the use of substances and methods used in production, the definition of types and places of cultivation, as well as other aspects related to the value chain of hemp products.
Commentary of experts of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"
For quite a long time, European cannabis growers have raised the issue of the need to increase the maximum allowable value of controlled THC in the plant from 0.2 to 0.3%. This was explained by the non-competitiveness of European varieties of technical hemp with a therapeutic orientation in comparison with Anglo-Saxon (American, Australian, Canadian) plant hydrides used to obtain "green mass", which is later used for medical purposes (for the production of seeds or fiber, the amount of THC in a plant is not of particular importance. It has).
Ways of using cannabis (medical uses are highlighted in red)
If you look a little deeper, you can pay attention to the fact that the Italian government, at the level of the current regulatory framework, raised the maximum THC value in the plant to 0.6% a few years ago. This was due not so much to the need to use the hemp plant for medicinal purposes, but to the inability of European varieties to meet the criteria for 0.2% THC in industrial crops. In Canada, the term Hot Hemp is applied to almost 30% of industrial crops of industrial hemp - accordingly, such crops are forcibly destroyed. In Europe, until recently, this kind of excess of the controlled substance was treated more tolerantly (this is evidenced by the experience of conducting relevant examinations in individual EU countries, in particular Lithuania).
Ukraine, in accordance with the agreements signed with the EU, has undertaken to increase the amount of the controlled substance by the end of this year. Given the lack of a regulatory framework in the country regulating the work with cannabis varieties in which the amount of THC exceeds 0.08%, as well as the desire of law enforcement officials to “earn” on hemp crops (remember the corresponding departmental order, some provisions of which directly contradict several Resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine), representatives of the relevant association were invited to state structures to hold an interdepartmental meeting, within the framework of which, together with market specialists, it was necessary to determine the transition period necessary for Ukrainian breeders in order to create national therapeutic hemp varieties containing THC in which it would not exceed 0.3%, as well as to provide this sector of national cannabis growing with an appropriate regulatory framework.