Kentucky legislators are defining and redefining what’s allowed with regards to hemp products.

House Bill 593 calls for a creation of a new section in the Kentucky Revised Statute’s (KRS) Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to establish labeling requirements for cannabidiol (CBD) products, including:

Labeling requirements for ingestible or cosmetic CBD products that allow consumers to find the certificate of analysis for the product, where the hemp was grown and contact information of the manufacturer or distributor.

Restriction of product labeling or advertising material for any ingestible or cosmetic CBD product bearing any claims that the product can diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Manufacturers or processors of ingestible or cosmetic CBD products shall be permitted as a food manufacturer or a cosmetic manufacturer. They must include a list of CBD products as well as the name and physical address of production or processing.

HB 593 passed the House Health and Family Services Committee unanimously and will go to the House for a full floor vote. Rep. Joe Graviss (D) sponsored the bill.

Also on the docket: Reps. Mark Hart (R) and Savannah Maddox (R) introduced House Bill 506 to the House Agriculture Committee.

HB 506 would amend definitions of Kentucky’s KRS Controlled Substances to exempt combustible hemp products, including hemp cigarettes and cigars, from the definition of marijuana. It would also allow a licensee to process, handle or market combustible hemp products and exempt anyone in possession, custody or control of combustible hemp products from the penalties applicable to marijuana.

Kentucky law currently prohibits sale of hemp cigarettes; hemp cigars; chew, dip or other smokeless material; and hemp leaf or floral material teas.

Hart told WKMS that the removing the ban would provide more market opportunities for hemp farmers and retailers that are available in neighboring Tennessee and Indiana.

“Everybody is growing this hemp, and they don’t seem to have an avenue or a way to market it, sell it and make money off of it,” he said. “And when you see other states doing some of the stuff, and their hemp farmers are surviving and thriving, I want Kentucky hemp farmers to have the same opportunity.”