Hemp business owner sheds light on proposed bills in response to potential Wisconsin hemp ban

SUPERIOR, Wis.– With a federal ban on hemp-derived products taking effect in November across the country, a CBD and hemp business owner in Superior is feeling some sense of relief with new legislation in the works from Wisconsin lawmakers.

Craig Sutherland with “Sutherland CBD” said, there are two competing republican-led bills that determines the future of hemp, including products such as gummies and seltzers.

Senate bill 686, backed by the Wisconsin coalition for cannabis, would treat hemp as an agriculture economy.

In that bill, hemp business owners would control all aspects of processing, manufacturing, and selling.

On the other hand, Assembly bill 606, would make hemp distribution similar to alcohol, a three-tiered system where manufacturers distributors, and retailers operate independently.

Sutherland said, he is not alone with this dilemma.

“Cannabis is a seed to sale. Industry. Farmers get their margins on this, selling their pride. They manufacture that they grow. If this goes to a three tier, there’s no more seed to sell, and it will destroy the farming agricultural industry that’s within hemp,” said Sutherland.

Sutherland said, a new effort has been made to try to save the CBD and hemp industry and allow hemp derived products.

He is on the Executive Board for the Wisconsin Coalition for Cannabis and represents 1,500 Wisconsin-based hemp farmers and retailers.

And he said, they’re on the same page as him.

“Right now, all the farmers unions and industrial hemp farmers unions are supporting Assembly Bill, 682, which is not the three tier bill. So right now, it’s pretty much the alcohol industry versus farmers on right now, clashing at the state,” said Sutherland.

Sutherland is urging lawmakers to vote on the bills before the crop season begins later this spring.

He said farmers would need to know whether they should begin the process, with tasks such as purchasing seed.