Until recently, hemp was classified as a Schedule 1 drug per the federal Controlled Substances Act, putting it in the same class as heroin (and marijuana). That all appears to change with passage of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (the Farm Bill), which includes historic provisions (section 10113) related to hemp and thus hemp-derived cannibidiol (CBD). President Trump is expected to sign the bill.
The Hemp Farming Act of 2018, originally introduced by Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kent.) as stand-alone legislation, but ultimately rolled into the Farm Act, reclassifies hemp for commercial purposes and legalizes its cultivation, processing, manufacturing and sale. It also moves hemp from Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) oversight to what Sen. McConnell hopes will be "light regulation" by the Dept. of Agriculture.
For the growing CBD market, the hemp provisions in the Farm Bill effectively declassify hemp-derived CBD as a controlled substance and legalize its use nationwide. Already an estimated $600 million industry, some now suggest market expansion to $20 billion or higher by 2022.
Hemp's former classification as a controlled substance has long associated it with marijuana. While both are derived from the same species, hemp – and thus hemp-derived CBD – has a negligible amount (0.3% or less) of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound known for giving marijuana users a "high."
The hemp provisions in the 2018 bill represent the next big step forward from provisions in section 7606 of the 2013 Farm Bill, which differentiated industrial hemp from marijuana based on THC content, and authorized state-regulated research and pilot programs in states that allowed hemp cultivation. At least 35 states ultimately developed industrial hemp programs.
Editor's Note: We've hosted several webinars this year on the health and wellness benefits of CBD. Click here to access our complete archives. Complete references (some of which are hyperlinked in this breaking news article) appear in the February 2019 print / digital issues.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
