DOJ to issue updated memo about CBD oil extracted under hemp pilot program

DOJ officials met with lawmakers, farm bureau

Rose Schmidt by Rose Schmidt

Officials from the Wisconsin Department of Justice met Wednesday afternoon with lawmakers who authored the bill creating the state’s hemp pilot program and lobbyists from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation to air their concerns about the extraction of cannabidiol, or CBD, under the state’s hemp-growing pilot program.

Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, said the DOJ would be issuing an updated analytical note authorizing Wisconsin farmers to extract CBD oil under the hemp-growing program.

“I think within the next day or so we’re going to have some clarity for those who want to participate in this program and give some assurance that they’re not going to be shut off from the state of Wisconsin,” Testin said.

JUST IN: @SenatorTestin says in the next day or two, @WisDOJ should have an updated analytic note making it clear that Wisconsin farmers will be able to extract CBD oil from industrial hemp they grow through the state’s pilot program. #news3 — Rose Schmidt (@RoseSchmidtTV) May 9, 2018

DOJ had originally issued a memo last month saying it was illegal to possess and distribute CBD oil, angering farmers who were banking on producing the oil to generate dollars.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection received more than 350 applications from farmers hoping to grow hemp and issued more than 70 licenses.

@SenatorTestin met this afternoon with officials from @WisDOJ and @WIFarmBureau here in Madison to air out their concerns about this issue. Testin says the meeting was very productive. #news3 — Rose Schmidt (@RoseSchmidtTV) May 9, 2018

“Initially, we thought if we could have a couple dozen (applications) for the first year, that’s a great step in the right direction, but to have 350 shows that there is a huge demand for the industrial hemp crop in Wisconsin and that Wisconsin is poised to lead the national years down the road like we used to back in the 50s, 40s and 30s,” Testin said.

It’s unclear at this time how many of those applications were from farmers were hoping to extract CBD oil from the hemp.

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