Veto Virginia Sb591

Mt Joy Naturals is representing Veteran's, Virginian's, Small Business Owners and Farmers. We are asking you to veto SB 591. The bill narrows the exceptions for hemp in the definition of "marijuana," sets arbitrary and ultra-restrictive THC concentration limits per serving and would make Virginia the first state in the country to impose milligrams limits by statute, instead of through deliberative, science-focused rulemaking.

Please consider:

• Hemp is not 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.

• By scientific and legal Federal definition and laws, hemp is an agricultural commodity that does not contain more than 0.3% of the intoxicant Delta 9 THC.

• Restrictive regulatory requirements are an excessive burden, stifle the free market, and deprive Virginia citizens of beneficial products.

• Hemp and hemp products provide needed opportunity for hemp farmers and small businesses in Virginia that are struggling in today's difficult agricultural and retail economies.
The economic hardship this will bring to thousands of Virginia taxpayers and the loss of jobs across the state will be disheartening while forcing commerce to go elsewhere, taking millions of taxable incomes with it.

Many of us have followed VDAC’s guidelines, have went above and beyond to set the standards to broaden education to employees and customers. We are here with hundreds of testimonies showing that we are here to help.
We also want regulations, we agree this is necessary, but allow the ones of us that have worked to obtain licensing, who have worked to educate the public, and who have devoted our lives to helping others through the benefits it’s of CBD and Hemp derived products to be the ones to help set standards while working hand in hand with the state.

On behalf of Mt Joy Naturals, Veterans, and Virginians we ask that you
Please veto SB 591.