DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa senators placed a bill providing regulation for hemp and hemp products as well as potential penalties on the "Unfinished Business List" Thursday.
The move to the list means legislators can revisit this bill at any time during the remainder of the legislative session, even with the so-called second funnel week looming overhead.
This legislation, introduced back in early February by Rep. Steven Holt, R-Crawford County, challenges Iowa's current hemp law.
His bill, which passed through the House on Tuesday with a 78-16 vote, strikes the previously proposed 2mg of THC per serving maximum, and raises it to 4mg, although Holt admitted: "I would like the THC limit to be much lower."
Aside from capping hemp products with THC at 4mg per serving, the bill would also enforce a maximum container limit of 10mg, and add an age requirement to the state law for purchasing and consuming such products at a minimum of 21 years old.
"No synthetic THC will be produced or sold," Rep. Ray Sorensen, R-Adair County said. "And labels will be put on THC products as a warning, similar to those that are on alcohol."
House Democrats believe this legislation would create barriers who use these products for their health, creating a harmful economic impact on businesses who sell the products.
"I'm afraid this is a bill that is going to have a major impact, not only on Iowans and access to this product, but just the number of jobs that could be possibly lost if this legislation passes," said Rep. John Forbes, D-Polk County.
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Black Hawk County Democrat Rep. Bob Kressig said: "Any of the providers of those products are going to discontinue bringing those into Iowa."
Corey Coleman, the president of the Iowa Hemp Coalition, told Local 5 there are more than 1,000 businesses selling consumable hemp products in the state, and he's heard from other retailers this bill would impact not only sales, but their lives.
"It is your livelihood. I've gotten several calls from people, very emotional, sobbing, questioning, 'How are they going to get through this?" Coleman explained.
Coleman said many businesses have self-regulated their products for years, and is in favor of some aspects of the bill like the impact on hemp farming and its distribution as well as an age restriction.
If legislators do decide to revisit this bill, and eventually pass it through the Statehouse, it would also impact CBD products —aside from THC in hemp products.