HR368: HR368 Joint Study Committee on Intoxicating Cannabinoids in Consumable Hemp Products; create

25 LC 55 0600S The House Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs offers the following substitute to HR 368: A RESOLUTION Creating the House Study Committee on Intoxicating Cannabinoids in Consumable Hemp1 Products; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, in 2018, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Agriculture3 Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 115-334 (2018 Farm Bill), w hich authorized the4 production of hemp and removed hemp from the federal schedule of controlled substances;5 and6 WHEREAS, through the Georgia Hemp Farming Act, approved May 10, 2019 (Ga. L. 2019,7 p. 1030), the General Assembly authorized the production of hemp in Georgia in accordance8 with the federal 2018 Farm Bill; and9 WHEREAS, the definition of hemp in the federal 2018 Farm Bill a nd the Georgia Hemp10 Farming Act limits the amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) that may be11 present in hemp, but neither Act provides limits on other isome rs of delta-9-THC or other12 cannabinoids; and13 WHEREAS, by an Act of the General Assembly, approved April 30, 2024 (Ga. L. 2024, p.14 455), the General Assembly provided regulations on the production and sale of consumable15 H. R. 368 (SUB) - 1 - 25 LC 55 0600S hemp products, but did not provide restrictions on isomers of d elta-9-THC or other16 potentially intoxicating cannabinoids; and17 WHEREAS, since passage of the 2018 Farm Bill and the Georgia Hemp Farming Act, it has18 been discovered that many other substances derived from the can nabis plant beyond19 delta-9-THC may be intoxicating and may have serious side effec ts. Such substances20 include, but are not limited t o, delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol ( delta-8-THC),21 delta-10-tetrahydrocannabinol (de lta-10-THC), delta-11-tetrahyd rocannabinol22 (delta-11-THC), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), exo-tetrahydrocannabinol (exo-THC),23 THC-O-acetate (THC-OA), THC-O-phosphate (THC-O), tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THCP),24 tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), tetrahydrocannabihexol (THCH), tetrahydrocannabioctyl25 (THCJD), tetrahydrocannabutol (THCB), cannabinol (CBN), and hex ahydrocannabinol26 (HHC); and27 WHEREAS, the lack of restrictions on such substances have led t o intoxicating and28 potentially dangerous consumable hemp products being readily av ailable in Georgia and29 consumed at alarming rates; and30 WHEREAS, the General Assembly intends to provide restrictions o n such substances and31 other intoxicating cannabinoids so as to protect the citizens o f this state from such32 intoxicating and potentially dangerous substances. However, the General Assembly desires33 to provide those in the consumable hemp industry, government agencies, law enforcement34 officers, and members of the public the opportunity to provide comment on such potential35 restrictions before they are enacted so as to understand the ne ed for such restrictions, how36 such restrictions should be implemented, and the impact such restrictions may have on the37 hemp industry in Georgia; and38 H. R. 368 (SUB) - 2 - 25 LC 55 0600S WHEREAS, other intoxicating substances, such as alcohol, are subject to excise taxes in this39 state; and40 WHEREAS, there is currently no excise tax imposed on the sale o f consumable hemp41 products in this state; and42 WHEREAS, study is needed to determine if an excise tax should be imposed on the sale of43 consumable hemp products in this state, particularly on the sal e of consumable hemp44 beverages.45 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:46 (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee47 on Intoxicating Cannabinoids in Consumable Hemp Products.48 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the49 House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of50 Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson51 of the committee.52 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,53 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or54 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.55 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee56 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or57 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and58 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.59 (5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.60 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided61 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.62 H. R. 368 (SUB) - 3 - 25 LC 55 0600S (B) The allowances and expenses authorized by this resolution shall not be received63 by any member of the committee for more than five days unless a dditional days are64 authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come65 from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives.66 (6) Report.67 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that68 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the69 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to70 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.71 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for72 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)73 of this paragraph.74 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of75 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.76 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with77 the Clerk of the House of Representatives.78 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the79 House of Representatives copies of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu80 thereof.81 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2025.82 H. R. 368 (SUB) - 4 -