{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-defends-ky-hemp-industry-against-regulatory-overreach/", "Dr. Rand Paul Defends KY Hemp Industry Against Regulatory Overreach", "2020-10-30", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "KY", "Rand Paul", "P000603", "www.paul.senate.gov", "paul", "https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nOctober 30, 2020\n\nContact: Press@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Last week, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) continued his efforts to help remove unnecessary regulatory hurdles standing in the way of Kentucky\u2019s industrial hemp farmers by urging the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to clarify and change certain provisions in its Interim Final Rule implementing the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 [AIA] to adhere to the legislation as passed.\n\nIn submitting a comment to the agency during the open comment period, Dr. Paul laid out his concern that the rule, issued in August, would \u201chave negative consequences for hemp farmers and processors in Kentucky and across the country.\u201d He then made clear that \u201c[t]he concerning provisions regarding the testing of hemp derivatives\u2019 THC [tetrahydrocannabinol] content and synthetically derived THC run contrary to both the plain language and intent of the law.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, Dr. Paul noted that \u201c[t]he interim rule states the definition of hemp does not automatically exempt hemp derivatives from a schedule I classification\u201d in a move that runs opposite to the AIA.\n\n\u201cFurthermore,\u201d he later stated, \u201cthe interim rule does not clarify when the hemp derivatives\u2019 THC content may be tested. THC levels fluctuate during the extraction process and could potentially exceed 0.3% THC, even if derived from a plant testing below 0.3%. The interim rule\u2019s lack of clarity could be interpreted to mean that a hemp derivative or extract exceeding the 0.3% THC limit while still being processed and not yet in its final form is illegal. Should the DEA enforce against processors whose products test above 0.3% while still in the extraction process, extraction would effectively become impossible. This runs contrary to the intent of law as it clearly includes extracts in the definition of hemp.\u201d\n\nIn contrast to the DEA\u2019s claims that the AIA does not change the control status of synthetically derived THC, Dr. Paul observed that the AIA, the law itself, \u201cdoes not draw a distinction between THC that is naturally occurring or synthetically derived using extracts from a hemp plant with a THC content of 0.3%.\u201d\n\nHe then highlighted the problem the DEA could cause, saying that \u201cthe interim rule does not define \u2018synthetically derived,\u2019 leaving wide room for misinterpretation and abuse of regulatory authority should the rule be enforced against hemp businesses processing hemp into extracts.\u201d\n\nIn concluding his comments, Dr. Paul urged the DEA \u201cto reexamine its interim rule to provide much needed clarity and to ensure it comports with both the plain language and intent of the law.\u201d\n\nDr. Paul has been a leading voice for removing government restrictions on hemp, and his past efforts, including championing legislation, testifying before the Kentucky legislature, and advocating for Kentucky farmers in Washington, have helped ensure Kentucky can rebuild this historically vital industry and push forward to a prosperous future.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-defends-ky-hemp-industry-against-regulatory-overreach/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5178101602941751, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}