One hemp industry organization is hopeful that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) most recent hire could lead the federal agency to regulate CBD.

FDA named Norman Birenbaum as senior public health advisor at the agency’s Center for Regulatory Programs Sept. 26.

U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR) General Counsel Jonathan Miller said that the FDA’s appointment of Birenbaum leads the USHR to be hopeful that it “signals a positive step forward for the regulation of hemp-derived cannabinoids such as CBD.”

From 2016 to 2019, Birenbaum acted as the “Cannabis Czar” for Rhode Island, where he oversaw the state’s medical cannabis and hemp programs, as well as created the state’s Office of Cannabis Regulation. In December 2019, he was appointed as the director of Cannabis Programs for New York State, where he supervised the regulation and policy development of the state’s medical cannabis and hemp programs.

Birenbaum is also the founding president of the Cannabis Regulators Association, which is a non-profit national organization of cannabis regulators “that provides policymakers and regulatory agencies with the resources to make informed decisions when considering whether and how to legalize and regulate cannabis.”

Miller said the USHR enjoyed working with Birenbaum on developing the regulatory framework for New York’s hemp program and that the organization looks forward to “working closely with him on the development of regulatory framework for CBD products to ensure consumer safety and product quality across the country.”

Various government agencies in Washington, D.C., are inspecting cannabis businesses this month to verify compliance with the district’s laws, meaning that unlicensed cannabis retailers could soon face enforcement action.

RELATED: D.C.’s Joint Cannabis Task Force Will Inspect Businesses Starting in September

However, recently released survey results reveal that the majority of D.C. voters oppose City Council’s decision to shut down the cannabis “gifting” shops.

The i-71 Committee, a coalition of citizens, industry leaders and stakeholders focused on passing legislation to provide cannabis access in the district, released new public opinion polling Sept. 22 that shows that 66% of likely D.C. voters support Initiative 71, the district’s adult-use cannabis legalization measure, and its current implementation, including cannabis gifting.

Twenty-seven percent of respondents oppose Initiative 71 and its implementation, according to the poll results, while 72% support cannabis legalization across the city and 23% oppose it.

In July 2022, plaintiffs purporting to represent every medical marijuana patient in Arkansas filed a lawsuit against a cannabis testing company, a group of cannabis cultivation facilities, and John Does who are “the law firms, accountants and financial entities who have assisted Defendants,” according to the suit. The complaint alleges that the defendants conspired to sell underdosed cannabis products at premium prices. The plaintiffs asserted their claim under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), a type of specialized anti-conspiracy statute that provides criminal penalties for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization.

While somewhat different than prior cases, this lawsuit is not the first time plaintiffs across the U.S. have tried to deploy the RICO statute against the state-legal cannabis industry. 

RICO cases against cannabis businesses share broadly similar facts. The plaintiffs typically reside in the vicinity of a cannabis cultivation operation and generally oppose cannabis legalization, then sue a group of businesses and individuals involved in a neighboring cannabis business. The plaintiffs allege that those involved in the cannabis business are engaged in a criminal enterprise to violate the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by cultivating and selling cannabis.

For members of the state-legal cannabis industry—and their investors, advisors and other purported “co-conspirators”—this trend might be alarming. Presently, however, there is little cause for concern. To date, none of these cases have resulted in a judgment for the plaintiff(s), and in most of the cases, the RICO claim gets dismissed early on.  

Civil RICO and Cannabis Businesses

RICO, which Congress originally passed in 1970, was intended to be a tool for prosecutors to target crime organizations like the Mafia, according to The Wall Street Journal.   While RICO is primarily criminal, it also vests private citizens with rights to avoid “injur[ies]” to their businesses or property caused by racketeering activity (e.g. running an illegal business/organization) by explicitly allowing those private citizens to file lawsuits against those participating in racketeering. 

Last week, the hemp building industry scored a victory when the International Code Council (ICC) approved hemp-lime (hempcrete) insulation in the model U.S. residential building code at a public hearing in Louisville, Ky.

The U.S. Hemp Building Association (USHBA) submitted Proposal RB316-22 in January to receive certification for hemp-lime insulation in U.S. building codes. The ICC officially closed the public comment period last week.

RELATED: Advancing the Hemp Building Industry: Q&A With the U.S. Hemp Building Association

"The new code will be published in 2023 with Hemp-Lime (Hempcrete) appearing as 'Appendix BA' in the upcoming 2024 International Residential Code (IRC)," which is the foundation for residential code in 49 out of 50 states (aside from Wisconsin) and applies to one- and two-family townhouses and dwellings, according to a press release from the USHBA.

The approval allows hempcrete, "a mixture of hemp hurds or 'shiv' (made from hemp stalks) and a lime binder, [that] creates a long-lasting fibrous insulation for wall assemblies," to be used as a standard material in residential construction in low seismic risk areas without required engineer design beginning 2024. High seismic areas will require engineered design, according to the release.

Editor's Note: A seismic zone "is used to describe an area where earthquakes tend to focus; for example, the New Madrid Seismic Zone in the Central United States," according to the United States Geological Survey.

KINGSTON, New York, September 28, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - The BOD of the U.S. Hemp Building Association (USHBA) voted to appoint Henry Gage Jr. as president and Ryan Doherty as vice president Sept. 2.

RELATED: '2023 is the Year': Q&A With U.S. Hemp Building Association President Henry Gage Jr.

“It was an honor to serve as director of certifications and work with the team as we prepared and supported Proposal RB316-22, our hemp-lime proposal before the International Code Council in April. I am humbled to receive this vote of confidence from my peers as we accelerate our work with legislators, industry leaders, and members to establish hemp-lime as a new material in U.S. construction. By working with universities and industry representatives, members are creating new products and services,” Gage said. 

OEG Retail Cannabis (OEGRC), which holds a portfolio of brands in sports and entertainment, retail cannabis, and hospitality, announced plans Sept. 27 to acquire dispensaries and the Tokyo Smoke brand from Canopy Growth Corporation.

The company will acquire 23 of Canopy’s Tweed and Tokyo Smoke stores in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador, according to the press release.

When the transaction closes, OEGRC will be the sole owner of the Tokyo Smoke brand and trademark, and all the Tweed dispensary locations acquired will be rebranded. The company will retain all current customer-facing retail employees at the stores, according to the announcement.

“We believe this is the start of something special for the retail cannabis industry,” OEG Inc. CEO Jürgen Schreiber said in a public statement. “With this acquisition, OEG Retail Cannabis and the Tokyo Smoke brand are positioned as outright leaders in Canadian retail cannabis, and we are committed to doing everything we can to lead in customer experience, product quality and safety for years to come as the country’s cannabis industry continues to evolve and mature.”

In Canopy’s announcement of the acquisition, it said the “decision supports the company’s strategic objectives including streamlining Canadian operations, achieving profitability, and advancing a premium brand-driven portfolio for consumers.”

DENVER, Sept. 28, 2022 /CNW/ -  PRESS RELEASE - Schwazze, a vertically integrated, multi-state operating cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico, announces the grand opening of its adult-use dispensary, R.Greenleaf, located in the heart of Ruidoso, N.M. The new store, located at 360 Sudderth Drive in Ruidoso, officially opened its doors for business at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24.  Normal store operating hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

This store opening kicks off Schwazze's deliberate expansion throughout the state of New Mexico. This new store in Ruidoso brings R.Greenleaf's number of New Mexico retail dispensaries to 11. All locations serve the needs of medical patients as well as recreational adult-use consumers.

"Schwazze is excited to add to our retail footprint in New Mexico with our latest store opening in Ruidoso. Our team is thrilled to be opening our first new store since adult recreational cannabis was legalized in New Mexico on April 1," said Steve Pear, New Mexico Division President for Schwazze. "We feel honored to service the Ruidoso community with top-notch, knowledgeable staff and a wide variety of quality products."

Grand opening product specials and promotions are already in full swing with multiple flower pack offers, prerolls, gummies, chocolates and distillate vaporizer cartridges. Bundled kits or cannabis product starter packs will be offered for sale as well to provide patients and recreational customers a variety of product forms and consumption methods based on individual needs and preferences.

A grand opening celebration will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8, beginning at 10 a.m. and running until 3 p.m. Swag bags containing limited edition holographic stickers, t-shirts and beanies will be available while supplies last. Music will accompany a food truck offering free burritos and tacos to the first 75 customers making a purchase.

Ruidoso Store Location

Ascend Wellness Holdings (AWH) founder and now former CEO Abner Kurtin hasn’t even had his arraignment hearing yet—after a domestic battery charge earlier this month—but the multistate cannabis operator is already shuffling its leadership team. 

Kurtin, 55, was arrested Sept. 6 on a misdemeanor battery charge in Southern Florida, according to the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts. His court date is set for Sept. 30.

RELATED: Ascend Wellness CEO Arrested, Charged With Domestic Battery

But Ascend isn’t waiting any longer to find out the results of Kurtin’s arraignment.

The company announced Sept. 28 that it named Chief Financial Officer Daniel Neville and President and co-founder Frank Perullo as interim co-CEOs, effective immediately, in what’s being called a “leadership transition plan.” That plan includes Kurtin’s transition to executive chairman of the board.

The plan also includes Neville and Perullo overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations while the company’s board—now chaired by Kurtin—commences a search for a new CEO to “support [its] next phase of growth.” The board retained Russell Reynolds, an executive search firm, to support the effort.

Cookies is crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

With an exclusive licensing agreement now on the books, Cookies genetics will be grown, harvested and sold as medical cannabis products by Akanda Corp., a cultivation and manufacturing firm based in Portugal.

Summing up the news, Akanda CEO Tej Virk said, “Akanda has secured one of the most prized cannabis assets in Europe.”

Virk’s company boasts a 20,000-sq.-ft. indoor cultivation site (located in Sintra, Portugal, with a capacity of 2,000 kg of harvested cannabis per year) and a mixed outdoor-greenhouse site (located in Aljustrel). It was the Sintra facility that really grabbed the attention of Cookies executives. Across the fledgling medical cannabis markets of Europe, indoor cultivation is a rare breed. Virk ballparked his company’s flower supply above the 20% THC threshold. “We’re trying to lead the charge here in quality and innovation,” he said.

With the Cookies deal, Akanda will have a high-profile opportunity to prove itself to Europe. At the heart of this deal is a connection to the roots of the global cannabis industry—in California. Virk said that demand is strong for California cultivars and for Cookies’ extensive genetics library. This licensing agreement bridges a considerable gap between European medical cannabis patients and the California market.

“The cannabis industry is still a people business,” Virk said, noting Akanda had acquired its cultivation facilities from Holigen earlier this year. The Holigen team had a preexisting relationship with Cookies that helped pave the way to this month’s exclusive deal.

While Oct. 1 is the tentative date for adult-use cannabis retailers to launch commercial sales in Vermont, nothing is stopping three licensees from opening their doors earlier if they so choose.

Once businesses have their licenses fully issued—meaning they received local permits where applicable, met any outstanding contingencies on their license and paid associated fees—they may begin operations, Nellie Marvel, outreach and education manager for the Vermont Cannabis Control Board (CCB), told Cannabis Business Times.

There are three businesses that have been approved for retail sales across the state at this point, she said.

RELATED: Vermont Issues First Cannabis Retail Licenses

At its Sept. 14 board meeting, the CCB issued those adult-use retail licenses to Mountain Girl Cannabis in Rutland, FLORA Cannabis in Middlebury, and CeresMED—formerly Champlain Valley Dispensary—an existing medical cannabis operator in South Burlington.

“There’s nothing specifically saying that businesses must wait until Oct. 1 to begin sales, if they’re licensed,” Marvel said. “They may opt to do so, as that’s the date everyone is familiar with, but they do not necessarily have to. Others may opt to wait until the supply chain becomes more established—this is a decision every business owner will have to make for themselves.”

The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is seeking $128 million in penalties from illegal cannabis businesses that regulators say produced and sold products in the state for more than a year without a license.

Regulators argue that “undisputed evidence” was revealed during the course of litigation and that the four business entities and three individual owners named as defendants in the case admitted to the illegal activity, which occurred for roughly a year and a half, Law360 reported.

"Both the admissions of the defendants and independent evidence gathered by the DCC support that the seven defendants 'engaged in unlicensed commercial cannabis activity' in the State of California for 527 days," the department told the court, according to Law360. "There is no triable issue as to this fact when determining the civil penalty that should be assessed in this case."

Regulators went on to argue that the department “should be granted summary since there were no contested issues left as to whether the defendants broke the law or what the civil penalties should be,” Law360 reported.

The California Bureau of Cannabis Control, the regulatory body that has since been replaced by the DCC, and the California Department of Public Health filed the lawsuit nearly two years ago, according to Law360. State officials accused the defendants of “flooding the regulated market with $64 million worth of cannabis gummies,” which were manufactured without a state license, the outlet reported.

SAN JOSE, California, Sept. 27, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - TPCO Holding Corp. (The Parent Company), a consumer-focused California cannabis company, announced that it has acquired the remaining 15% equity of its Calma Weho LLC (Calma) dispensary following receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.

Located in the Los Angeles metropolitan region, the 3,250-square-foot dispensary is one of eleven stores in the West Hollywood area that is licensed for storefront retail and is surrounded by cultural destinations and tourist attractions in every direction. Since the first closing, the company has rolled out its full brand offering and recently debuted its Monogram "store within a store" concept, providing consumers a curated experience of the Monogram brand and line of products.

"The energy and excitement at Calma are fantastic, and it boasts the best flower assortment in West Hollywood," said Troy Datcher, The Parent Company CEO and chairman. "It's both a beautiful dispensary and an incredible gathering space that we have used to host events and collaborations, including our recent FaZe Rain RCVRY product launch, which saw phenomenal community response and surpassed our expectations. With an intentional menu selection that showcases a variety of consumption methods, Calma caters to both those about to embark on their cannabis journey as well as experienced connoisseurs, and we are thrilled to have now completed the acquisition."

In connection with the final closing of the acquisition, The Parent Company issued an aggregate $1.5 million common shares of the company to equity holders of Calma.

PHOENIX, Arizona, Sept. 27, 2022 - 4Front Ventures Corp., a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator and retailer, announced the launch of its premier California cannabis brand, Island Cannabis Co., in Massachusetts. Following the company's acquisition of Island, a California-based producer of prerolls, flower and concentrate products, in April, the company began cultivating 11 new Island flower strains at its state-of-art flower facilities located in Holliston, Georgetown and Worcester, Mass.

The 11 new Island strains include Project 4516; The Cypher; Banana Puddintain; Garlic Z; Star 91; Mimosa; London Pound Mints; TK-43; Wonka Bars; Cookies & Cream; and Grapes n' Cream. Each strain has been hand-selected for its unique genetic lineage, terpene profile, potency, and nose. Island's new strains are initially available for purchase exclusively at 4Front's Mission Dispensaries in Georgetown, Worcester and Brookline, and are expected to roll out to partner dispensaries across the Bay State in the coming weeks.

"After our acquisition of Island earlier this year, we quickly set out to strategically bring the very best the brand had to offer to our customers, and I couldn't be more pleased with how quickly and efficiently our team was able to deliver these popular California fan favorites to Massachusetts consumers," 4Front CEO Leo Gontmakher said. "With the launch of Island in the Bay State, we're confident that even the pickiest of cannabis connoisseurs will fall in love with these strains and that, as a whole, the brand will create a loyal following, just as it has in the Golden State. We also look forward to bringing additional high-quality flower products from Island to Massachusetts in the very near future, including larger format flower offerings and Island's best-selling prerolls and infused prerolls in singles and multipacks."

4Front President of Massachusetts Operations and Island Co-Founder Brandon Mills added, "Taking proven products and brands like Island and strategically launching them in key markets is one of the things we do best. With the launch of Island in Massachusetts, we took the best operational practices our team learned from years of cultivating and manufacturing in California, and married them with in-market expertise at our facilities in Holliston, Georgetown and Worcester. Bringing together best-in-class genetics, cultivation practices, and production technology, we're delivering a premium cannabis value proposition, coast-to-coast."

Illinois’ adult-use cannabis licensing process has been littered with legal challenges, and High Haven, a female- and minority-owned company based in the state, is just one of several business hopefuls embroiled in litigation to secure licenses to operate in the state’s billion-plus-dollar cannabis industry.

In an Aug. 10 order, a judge allowed the company, represented by Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP, to participate in a “corrective lottery” designed to recreate the odds that High Haven would have faced had it not been excluded from the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation’s (IDFPR) original lotteries in 2021 to award 185 adult-use dispensary licenses.

RELATED: Illinois Cannabis Retail Licenses Still in Limbo After Third and Final Licensing Lottery

High Haven subsequently won five retail licenses and is now in the process of raising capital to launch its operations in the state, where the company also holds adult-use cannabis infuser and transporter licenses.

“The case against the IDFPR has been a very long and hard-fought battle,” Casey Grabenstein, partner at Saul Ewing and lead attorney on the case, tells Cannabis Business Times.

Connecticut’s Social Equity Council members did not admit error, but they are allowing five adult-use cannabis license applicants they previously rejected to resubmit their social equity applications.

That decision, which council members approved during their Sept. 26 meeting, stems from the council’s July approval of 16 adult-use cultivation licenses from a pool of 41 applicants for satisfactorily meeting the requirements set forth by state law to qualify for the Disproportionately Impacted Area (DIA) cultivator license type.

During what was supposed to be a one-time application period, social equity applicants were required to show control of at least 65% of the qualifying business as well as meet the law’s income and residency requirements.

But one of the 25 rejected applicants filed a lawsuit on the grounds that the Social Equity Council changed the rules midway through the process and did not allow for amended applications, claiming that there was no discussion about requiring the 65% ownership status at a previous meeting held by the council. More companies followed with litigation and a dozen lawsuits had been filed by mid-August.

Eleven of those lawsuits challenging the state’s social equity licensing process were later consolidated as one in New Britain Superior Court.

Now, the Social Equity Council is offering a do-over for a handful of companies that did not originally meet certain requirements during the three-month applications period earlier this year, CT News Junkie reported. Those companies are Brownstone Sales LLC, Leaf CT LLC, Let’s Grow Hartford LLC, Shangri-La CT Inc. and White Oak Apothecary LLC. 

WASHINGTON STATE, Kent, Sept. 27, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Custom Cones USA will donate 10% of profits on its Pink Ribbon pre-rolled cones charity drive in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and is encouraging other cannabis businesses to match the Washington-based company's pledge. A portion of the pre-rolled pink cones' profits, which feature the iconic pink ribbon on a filter tip with refined white paper, will go toward breast cancer research, community education, and resources to help those suffering from this disease via a donation to the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation. 

"For our Pink Ribbon Cones for a Cause donation, it was crucial to find a charity that is both transparent and actively working to end breast cancer, as well as improve the lives of those in our communities suffering from this disease," Custom Cones USA CEO and co-founder Harrison Bard said. "This is why Custom Cones USA is so honored to partner with the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation this year, in an effort to further fund scientific research and other proactive measures like community education and screenings that the nonprofit prioritizes." 

Interested cannabis companies can purchase pink cones to contribute to the cause. While only the Pink Ribbon cones' profits will go toward charity, other stock options are available for businesses who want to offer pink pre-rolls or packaging in time for October sales.

"Here at Custom Cones USA, we are proud to offer a way for the cannabis industry to give back to the community through our Pink Ribbon Cones for a Cause initiative," John Arriola, Custom Cones USA vice president of sales said. "As the industry's Pre-Roll Experts, we are also working tirelessly to keep plenty of alternate pink packaging options for pre-rolls in stock for October promotions–this helps small business roll out their own charity-focused products." 

Custom Cones USA is also able to fulfill custom orders of pre-rolled cones designed around a specific cause or for any event or promotion. Learn more about the company's Pink Ribbon Pledge and stay informed on all pre-roll industry happenings over at the Custom Cones USA blog. 

SEATTLE, Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- Headset, a provider of data and analytics to the cannabis industry, today expanded its suite of cannabis market and intelligence solutions with the launch of Bridge Signal. Building upon Headset's existing platform, which is powered by transaction data from over 26 point-of-sale integrations, the addition of menu-sourced data provides a new layer of real-time competitive intelligence designed for on-the-go users in a mobile friendly interface.

Headset's latest data tool, Bridge Signal, simplifies the cluttered landscape of online menus and limits the time companies spend scraping and collating menu data. Bridge Signal features a social media-like activity feed that tracks stock-outs, price changes, promotional activity and product arrivals throughout a specific region in real-time. The activity feed is accompanied by a retailer overview feature that allows users to dig deeper into the product assortment of nearby stores. Each week, Headset is committed to releasing new feature enhancements that will continue to advance the product's data security, data coverage, and reporting capabilities for both retailers and brands.

Through direct data partnerships with online menu providers, Bridge Signal provides a secure and reliable way to access competitive intelligence in real-time without the interruptions that alternative web-scraping models may encounter. The newly launched tool allows retailers to monitor changes in competitor pricing, product assortment and promotional activity. Bridge Signal also helps brands strategically prospect and find their competitive footing in an increasingly saturated landscape. In totality, Bridge Signal adds to an already robust ecosystem of data services and reinforces Headset as the most comprehensive solution for data and analytics in the cannabis space.

"In today's fast-paced, wide ranging market, Bridge Signal is more valuable than ever. There are, on average, 2,377 new products introduced per market per month. In California alone, there are 1197 brands competing across 971 stores. How do you stand out in a crowded market?" said Cy Scott, founder and CEO of Headset. "Bridge Signal simplifies the crowded industry and brings key pieces of data together in a mobile-friendly experience that is easy to digest."

To learn more about Bridge Signal, please click here.

VANCOUVER, Wash., September 15, 2022 (Newswire.com) - PRESS RELEASE - Bankcard International Group (B.I.G.), a provider of cannabis merchant accounts for payment processing, announced that its services have been approved by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Traditionally, cannabis businesses have had to use "workaround" solutions for electronic payments or accept cash only. B.I.G. offers retailers in Washington, and any state where cannabis is legal, the opportunity to accept PIN Debit card payments just like traditional retail businesses.

"We are thrilled that the Washington DFI recognizes the need for payment solution oversight and that we have met their standards to gain approval as a cannabis payment service provider. By offering a traditional debit-card payment option, we are paving the way for safer, more compliant, and more productive business," said Brett Taylor, CEO, B.I.G.

B.I.G. offers cannabis merchant accounts for PIN Debit payment processing, not cashless ATMs. Meaning, customers can purchase their products without the need to go to the ATM, sign up for a payment sending service, or carry cash. They simply insert their debit card, enter their PIN, and walk away--just like going to the grocery store. Until there is federal guidance, the major card brands still prohibit the use of credit cards for cannabis. However, many of the debit networks feel differently so long as strict compliance and reporting standards are maintained.

Joe Zahaitis, president, B.I.G. remarks, "We are very excited about this recognition by Washington state, further expanding our presence as a leader in legitimate cannabis processing around the country. We look forward to talking to new cannabis clients every day and welcome Washington State to the gold standard in compliant cannabis payments."

While the rapidly growing cannabis industry continues to struggle with access to traditional services, PIN Debit payments are a significant step forward for cannabis retailers and delivery services.

Nick Bendge, owner, Sparket Cannabis Market in Port Angeles, Wash., says: "… Using B.I.G.'s processing system, we have increased our average daily spend (ADS) compared with cash transactions, alleviated stress by having significantly less cash on premise and know that any issues that may arise will be quickly resolved with their great customer assistance ..." about B.I.G.'s PIN Debit services.

In a recent study, researchers at Oregon State University found that spent hemp biomass can be considered an alternative feed for lambs.

Hemp and its byproducts are currently not approved for use in animal feed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO); however, FDA approval for spent hemp biomass to be allowed for use in livestock diets would allow CBD hemp farmers to have an end use for their leftover hemp byproducts.

Earlier this year, AAFCO issued a joint letter of concern calling for more research on hemp in animal feed to ensure it is safe for the public, animals and industry, Cannabis Business Times reported.

"We understand the importance of supporting the hemp industry, and yet we also believe it is simply too soon to know whether hemp is safe for farm and ranch animals, as well as for our pets," AAFCO said in the letter. "Our goal is for more research to ensure the safety and well-being of the public, our animals, and our agricultural industry."

And researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) have taken the initiative and conducted several studies on feeding spent hemp biomass to livestock.

RELATED: Beyond Grain: Oregon Researchers Study Feeding Spent Hemp Biomass to Livestock

The National Hemp Growers Cooperative (NHGC) is a Mississippi-based organization with members across the U.S. that aims to provide opportunities for its growers and help them excel in their businesses. Recently, the cooperative has turned its attention to bioplastics.

NHGC recently partnered with Troy University's Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences in Alabama–where several of its members reside–to further the research and development of biodegradable plastics using hemp fiber and to create more market opportunities for its growers, particularly within the automotive industry.

The Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences opened in 2018 with help from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which awarded the center a three-year $3.2 million grant to further develop research related to polymers and polymer recycling. The NIST has since awarded the center two additional grants totaling $5 million to aid research.

Nick Walters, NHGC managing partner, says the center’s existing research and development efforts helped pave the way for the partnership. He adds that NHGC National Membership Coordinator, Max Howell, is also an alumnus of Troy University, further cementing the cooperative’s partnership with the university.

The university works closely with one of the largest plastic recycling companies in the U.S., KW Plastics, located in Troy, Ala., Walters says.

As part of the partnership, NHGC members will grow the hemp for the research, while KW plastics will provide the different types of recyclable plastics the Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences needs throughout the research and development.