Alaska has introduced new regulations regarding hemp-derived products, sometimes called “diet weed.” These changes involve subjecting intoxicating hemp-derived items to oversight by the state’s marijuana control board, leading to their removal from unregulated retailers such as vape shops.
These regulations will also impact some nonintoxicating products, particularly “full-spectrum” hemp products intended for purposes like epilepsy and pain relief, which contain various cannabinoids. Manufacturers will now need to extract and combine specific chemicals individually or seek approval through the marijuana regulatory process, incurring additional time and expenses.
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom signed these regulations, set to take effect on November 3. Advocates from Alaska’s legal marijuana industry argue that these changes will close a safety gap that allowed the sale of intoxicating, cannabis-like substances to underage individuals and without the taxes applied to cannabis.
Hemp industry representatives, however, believe these regulations aim to eliminate competition and protect the marijuana industry’s profits. These changes are primarily related to the state’s industrial hemp program. Federal and state laws classify cannabis plants containing less than 0.3% THC as hemp and those with higher THC levels as marijuana. While hemp typically has low levels of psychoactive compounds, they can be extracted and processed into intoxicating products.
These products are not subject to the same regulations as marijuana and are taxed at lower rates, making them accessible to individuals under 21 years old. The state’s marijuana board worked with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to develop these regulations, with the marijuana industry pushing for stricter control over hemp products.
Hemp-product manufacturers, frustrated by the rule changes, are considering legal action. While they could become regulated like marijuana businesses, the associated costs and complexities make this unlikely for most. Alaska maintains that it’s not banning hemp-derived products but requires them to be licensed similarly to marijuana, potentially setting the stage for legal challenges from the hemp industry.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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