Take Action in Washington to Protect Access to Hemp

Dear Charlotte’s Web family, 

We need your help to protect access to hemp in Washington state. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first state we’ve seen try to enact regulation on our industry that is detrimental to consumers seeking to manage their own wellness. As surprising as it may be to hear, states which allow recreational cannabis sales, are trying to regulate hemp products in a way that prevents most people from easily accessing full-spectrum hemp products.  

We went through this fight in Colorado and have seen success in protecting hemp-derived CBD access by encouraging the public to take action.  

While we’re encouraged that regulators are paying attention to our industry, see recent statement on the FDA’s call to Congress, we need to help them understand the science behind hemp-derived CBD products.  

Here’s what’s going on in Washington State:  

• Lawmakers have put forward two bills:  HB 1612 and SB 5367: The first bill is in the House and there’s a similar one in the Senate. The proposed bills would limit hemp consumable products, including tinctures, to 1 mg THC per serving and 3 mg THC per package. This contradicts the federal 2018 Farm Bill which permits full spectrum hemp CBD products to contain trace amounts of  THC at less than .3% THC. 

Why are we, Charlotte’s Web, so against these bills?

• The products we manufacture and sell are full spectrum hemp products with naturally occurring CBD. Full spectrum products contain trace amounts of other plant compounds including THC at less than .3% THC (as permitted under the 2018 Farm Bill).  
• Thousands of your fellow Washington State residents rely on our products for their general wellness, and we want to protect their access.  
• If these bills are enacted as-is, they would severely limit Washington State consumers access to full spectrum CBD products via ecommerce or retail outlets.  

What can you do to help protect the citizens of Washington?  

• Contact members of the committee working on these bills and communicate your opposition to the bills 
• Contact the bills’ sponsors to share your concerns on how bills will restrict access  
• Below is a letter that you can copy and paste.  
• We’ve also included email addresses and phone numbers of committee members and bill sponsors. 

If you have questions, we can help. Shoot us a DM on Twitter or Instagram.  

Drafted Letter for HB 1612 or SB 5367: 

Dear sir or madam, 

As a Washington consumer, I’m asking you to oppose the THC milligram limits in [HB 1612 / SB 5367]. The proposed bills would limit hemp consumable products, including tinctures, to 1 mg THC per serving and 3 mg THC per package. The limits are arbitrary and would effectively criminalize most full spectrum and broad spectrum products available in the market, wreaking havoc on the hemp and CBD industry.  

Please consider: 

• Hemp is not marijuana or THC from marijuana. Hemp-derived CBD is neither “medical” nor “marijuana.” While both hemp and marijuana are members of the cannabis family, they are uniquely distinctive plants, much like lemons and oranges are both citrus fruits. 
• Hemp products do not produce a psychoactive “high.” By scientific and legal definition, hemp is an agricultural commodity that does not contain more than 0.3% of the intoxicant THC. 
• Legal ambiguity and restrictive regulatory requirements are an excessive burden, stifle the free market, and deprive Washington citizens’ access to beneficial products.  
• Hemp and hemp products provide needed opportunities for hemp farmers and small businesses in Washington that are struggling in today’s difficult agricultural and retail economies.  

Please oppose the THC milligram limits in [HB 1612 / SB 5367]. I appreciate your consideration. 

Thank you, 

House Committee Members:  

House Bill 1612 Sponsors:  https://leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/Pages/default.aspx