By Madison Hirneisen

(The Center Square) – Virginia lawmakers approved amendments proposed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to a pair of bills establishing regulations on hemp-derived products in the commonwealth, which includes a provision allowing some products containing both THC and CBD that are used therapeutically to remain on store shelves.

The politically-divided General Assembly flocked to Richmond Wednesday to reconvene for a one-day session to consider the governor’s proposed amendments to 78 bills and three vetoes. Some of the governor’s amendments proposed technical changes to measures, while others proposed entire substitute bills.

While several amendments were approved with little debate, lawmakers in both the House of Delegates and the state Senate had lengthy debate over Youngkin’s proposed amendments to HB 2294 and SB 903 – a pair of bills that sought to impose limits on how much THC – a chemical found in the marijuana plant that can be intoxicating to consumers – could be included in an industrial hemp product.

Lawmakers have been wrestling with how to regulate hemp-derived products that contain THC following reports of children consuming hemp-derived products, like Delta-8 edibles, that made them ill.

The original version of the bills that passed the General Assembly limited the amount of THC included in a hemp product to a concentration of 0.3% and two milligrams per package. The bills also established labeling, testing and packaging requirements for hemp-derived products.

The governor’s proposed amendments, which were adopted by the General Assembly Wednesday, maintained labeling and testing requirements and the two milligrams of THC per package limit, but added an exemption to the rules for hemp products that are used for therapeutic purposes containing both THC and CBD. Read More