Government
The 2023 Farm Bill – What Could Change for CBD, Hemp-Derived Delta-8 and 9 THC, and FDA Regulations?
Industry Professionals urge Congress to regulate CBD and hemp-derived compounds in 2023 Farm Bill. What will the FDA do on CBD in food? Will psychoactive Delta-8 and 9 derived from hemp be banned nationally or will the new 1% THC limit help that market explode to new heights? Inquirig minds want to know!
Since the inception of the hemp industry four years ago, one thing that has continued to impact the market negatively is the FDA’s inaction in regulating hemp-derived cannabinoids and products.
In 2018, the United States legalized the cultivation, possession, and sales of hemp through the Farm Bill. Subsequently, the USDA laid down regulations for hemp production; however, the 2018 legislation is set to expire by 2023. (The legislature has to renew the bill every five years). This means the FDA prevented a significant growth in the hemp industry by failing to regulate hemp-derived compounds. Stakeholders in the industry, as well as concerned advocates, are trying to avoid this from happening again when the bill is amended in 2023.
The Upcoming 2023 Farm Bill
On July 2, a hearing titled ‘An Examination of the USDA’s Hemp Production Program’ was held by congress to explore the various ways the 2018 bill could be upgraded for hemp production to improve by 2023. At the meeting were the House Agriculture Subcommittee members, Eric Wang—CEO of Ecofibre and U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR) Vice President, and Ryan Quarles—Kentucky’s commissioner of Agriculture.
At the hearing, Wang and Quarles spoke. about the FDA’s lack of regulations for CBD and hemp-derived compounds, as well as how it was hurting the industry. Both urged the committee members to include a much-needed language in the 2023 Farm Bill to automatically regulate CBD and several other hemp-derived products. This way, the industry would have no reason to wait on the FDA. The majority of the attendees at this crucial hearing agreed with their point of view.
During his testimony, Quarles stated that the Food and Drug Administration’s tardiness in putting together a set of rules and regulations for hemp cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol, is disappointing. The supply chain in the hemp industry needs clear direction from the FDA regarding hemp-derived products before actors can develop and manufacture beneficial CBD-related compounds. This is currently a grey area; hence many business leaders are unwilling to make a move. This has resulted in very little demand for harvested hemp plants and materials.
When the 2018 Farm Bill was approved, Congress assured the public that it would support the cultivation and sales of hemp plants and hemp-derived compounds. This announcement spurred thousands of farmers in the U.S. to cultivate hemp on a medium and large scale. Hundreds of thousands of acres were utilized for this, only for the FDA officials to announce that it is illegal for indigestible hemp compounds to be sold. These public statements by the FDA took a mighty toll on the industry, as CBD commerce and investments resulted in losses. Since then, the industry has been chilled due to a lack of favorable policies at the federal level.
Jim Baird, Ranking Member Representative, commented that the FDA is yet to have a framework to regulate hemp-derived cannabinoids. He stressed that Congress has heard various recommendations for the amended bill and promised to continue discussing these great proposed solutions.
Chairwoman of the committee, Stacey Plaskett, wholeheartedly agreed that the FDA’s inaction had to be rectified in the next few months.
More Concerns Due To The FDA Inaction
Many people, including Wang, have warned that the FDA’s inaction further endangers millions of Americans. Poorly regulated CBD products put people’s safety and health at risk. In the last months, there has been an increase in the number of hemp products advertised as intoxicating. Consumers rarely research further on these products before buying and consuming them.
Wang rightly stated that farmers are not the only ones suffering from this regulatory uncertainty. Customers are impacted as well. Unsavory individuals mislead consumers by making false claims on product labels and selling products without the necessary precautions.
To make matters worse, affected farmers and business leaders have started producing and selling intoxicating products like Delta-8 THC. The U.S. Hemp Roundtable noted that many issues in the industry are more complicated than ever. Even minors are at risk.
With a clear regulatory pathway for CBD by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the economic pressure for the ongoing product shit will be relieved. This clear policy will guarantee that harmful hemp materials containing psychoactive compounds do not find their way into the market.
Next Steps…
Based on the report issued after the hearing, in the next few months, congress will be taking steps to incorporate CBD regulatory policies into the 2023 Farm Bill. This will regulate all non-toxic compounds derived from hemp as dietary supplements. In addition to this, Rep Chellie Pingree would be making similar provisions in his proposed Hemp Advancement Act.
Wang explained that both measures are absolutely necessary to limit the hemp product pathway to safe, non-toxic materials.
On the other hand, Quarles recommends taking into account a number of the Hemp Advancement Act’s crucial clauses, most importantly raising the overall THC limits for raw hemp material from 0.3 percent to 1.0 percent and eliminating the requirement that testing facilities register with the DEA. He believes raising the federal definition of hemp plants is the most appropriate step for the federal government. He also noted that the proposed 1.0% limit should include every THC isomer which has been found to have toxic effects on users, including delta-9, delta-8, delta-9, HHC, and delta-10.
BOTTOM LINE
The future of the hemp and CBD industry depends on the decision that will be taken in the coming months. By adopting a “total THC” criterion rather than a “delta-9 THC alone” standard, a threshold that more accurately reflects the substance’s genuine intoxication potential will be created.
Like Quarles rightly said, in the coming years, we should expect moderate growth in the number of acres planted, at least until the FDA establishes the legal framework for CBD and other non-intoxicating cannabinoids. Wang concluded that clear regulatory guidance for CBD would assist in building the positive momentum needed to see the U.S. reclaim its position as the world leader in industrial hemp.
The Sambhal district administration has cancelled four government land leases issued more than three decades ago after an official investigation found alleged irregularities in the classification and allotment of Ganga river land.
The action follows an inquiry that concluded approximately 31 bigha of land in Surpur village of Gunnour tehsil was leased after its original revenue classification was allegedly altered, allowing land categorized as riverbed to be treated as agricultural property.
Inquiry Reveals Alleged Record Manipulation
The decision was taken by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) based on an investigation conducted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Gunnour.
Officials found that while the current revenue records listed the land as transferable agricultural property, older consolidation documents identified it as Category-6(1) submerged river land, making it ineligible for such allotments.
Following the findings, the administration ordered the cancellation of all four leases and directed revenue officials to restore the land’s original classification in official records.
Leases Issued in 1991 Declared Invalid
According to the inquiry, the disputed leases were granted on November 17, 1991, in the names of Shrinivas, Sher Singh, Shakuntala, residents of Surpur village, and Prakash Chandra of Patei Kayasth village.
Authorities stated that the allotments did not comply with the provisions of Section 128 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006, prompting their cancellation.
Officials said corrective entries are now being made in the revenue records to reflect the land’s original legal status.
Wider Probe Into Ganga Riverbank Land Allotments
The latest action is part of a broader investigation into alleged irregularities involving government land located along the Ganga riverbank in Sambhal district.
Earlier investigations uncovered suspected illegal allotments involving nearly 845 bigha of government land in Sukhailla village under Gram Panchayat Asadpur, where 162 leases are also under scrutiny.
Investigators believe a similar pattern may have been followed in multiple cases, with riverbed land allegedly reclassified as agricultural land before being leased to individuals.
Field inspections reportedly found that much of the land was unsuitable for conventional farming and was instead being used for activities such as sand mining.
Government Land Worth ₹18 Crore Under Review
District officials estimate that approximately 850 bigha (around 71.5 hectares) of government land, valued at nearly ₹18 crore, is currently under investigation.
Authorities have launched a comprehensive review of historical land leases issued across villages situated along the Ganga river in the Rajpura, Gunnour, and Junawai blocks.
The objective is to determine which allotments were made legally and identify cases where land records may have been manipulated.
Officials’ Role Also Being Examined
The investigation has also raised questions about the possible involvement or negligence of officials from the revenue and consolidation departments.
District authorities said responsibility will be fixed after the inquiry is completed, and legal or departmental action will be taken against anyone found to have violated land allotment rules.
Officials indicated that the ongoing review could reveal additional cases involving unauthorized occupation or irregular leasing of government land.
The administration has reiterated its commitment to restoring government property and ensuring transparency in land management across the district.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued a warning to NEET UG 2026 candidates and their parents against submitting fake, altered, or AI-generated OMR sheets while raising objections related to examination results.
The examination authority said that candidates found providing fabricated documents or misleading information during the verification process could face legal consequences.
The warning comes after several students approached the agency with complaints alleging discrepancies between their expected scores and the marks published in the final results.
NTA Finds Suspicious Documents During Verification
According to the NTA, some candidates submitted OMR sheets while requesting score verification, but officials found that certain documents appeared to be manipulated or artificially generated.
The agency clarified that only original OMR sheets issued during the examination process will be accepted for reviewing complaints.
NTA officials said they are examining all grievances carefully and will consider only verified examination records while deciding on score-related concerns.
Students Raise Questions Over NEET UG Results
After the announcement of NEET UG 2026 results, several candidates reported differences between their estimated marks based on the official answer key and their final scorecards.
Some students claimed that their expected scores were significantly higher than the marks awarded in the results.
In some reported cases, candidates alleged that uploaded OMR sheets did not match their original answer sheets or that the displayed scores were inconsistent with their calculations.
The complaints prompted several students and parents to seek clarification and request a detailed review of the evaluation process.
AI-Generated Fake Records Create New Challenge
The NTA has highlighted the growing misuse of artificial intelligence tools to create fake examination documents.
Officials said digitally altered OMR sheets and fabricated records could create difficulties in identifying genuine grievances and may affect the integrity of the complaint resolution system.
The agency advised candidates to avoid using unofficial documents or modified materials while submitting objections.
Candidates found involved in producing false evidence may face action under applicable laws, the NTA warned.
NEET UG 2026 Conducted Again After Paper Leak Allegations
The NEET UG 2026 examination process faced controversy after allegations of a paper leak led authorities to cancel the original exam held on May 3.
A re-examination was conducted on June 21 for affected candidates, following which results were announced on July 16.
After the controversy, the government announced plans to move future NEET UG examinations from the traditional pen-and-paper format to a computer-based testing (CBT) system.
Verification Process Continues
The NTA said the review of complaints submitted by candidates is still underway and further decisions will be taken after completing the verification of all documents.
The agency has urged students to rely only on official communication channels and submit genuine records while seeking clarification about their results.
The Goa government has initiated a detailed investigation into alleged irregularities in Public Works Department (PWD) tenders worth nearly ₹1,000 crore, following complaints of document manipulation and misuse of contractor eligibility credentials.
The probe focuses on claims that certain construction firms may have secured high-value infrastructure contracts by submitting falsified or altered work completion certificates to qualify for top contractor categories.
Allegations of Fake Experience Certificates in Tender Bids
According to complaints filed by engineers and contractors, several companies allegedly used questionable documentation to obtain Class IAA contractor status, a designation that allows participation in large-scale government infrastructure projects.
Investigators are examining whether manipulated work completion certificates were used to falsely demonstrate prior project experience, thereby inflating eligibility during the tender evaluation process.
One of the key concerns involves references to infrastructure projects executed under Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited, including the “Mudi Tank Filling Scheme.” Authorities are verifying claims that duplicate or inconsistent completion certificates may have been issued for the same project.
JV Structure Alteration Under Scrutiny
Officials are also investigating alleged changes in joint venture (JV) agreements submitted during tender applications. In one case under review, a 2019 JV reportedly listed Amrita Constructions Private Limited as the lead partner, with another firm as a supporting entity.
However, documents submitted to Goa PWD allegedly reversed these roles, naming Bagkiya Constructions as the lead partner. This change is suspected to have significantly enhanced the company’s technical eligibility and past performance record.
Authorities believe such alterations may have allowed firms to qualify for contracts they would otherwise not have been eligible for under standard procurement norms.
Allegations Linked to Karnataka Project Documentation
Another complaint under review concerns the “Akka Mahadevi Memorial Project” in Shivamogga, Karnataka, valued at over ₹51 crore. It is alleged that the project, executed in phases, was incorrectly represented as a single completed contract to meet eligibility requirements for higher-value tenders.
Investigators are verifying whether such representations were used to gain unfair advantage in experience-based qualification criteria.
Government Launches Comprehensive Inquiry
Following the emergence of these allegations, the Goa government has ordered a preliminary inquiry into all related contracts, approvals, and supporting documentation.
Officials have stated that every stage of the tendering process—including eligibility checks, certificate validation, and contract award decisions—will be examined in detail.
If irregularities are established, possible actions may include contract cancellation, blacklisting of firms, recovery of funds, and legal proceedings against those involved in submitting false documentation.
Concerns Over Procurement Transparency
The case has raised broader concerns about transparency and verification systems in public infrastructure procurement. Experts point out that reliance on manual documentation without robust digital verification increases the risk of fraud in large-scale government contracting.
Transparency advocates have called for stronger auditing systems, centralized contractor databases, and real-time verification of project credentials to prevent misuse of public tender processes.
Probe Continues
Authorities have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and a detailed report will be prepared after reviewing all evidence and documentation. Further action will be taken based on the findings in accordance with applicable laws and procurement rules.
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