News and Publications

The 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act and Tetrahydrocannabinol

by Mahmoud A. ElSohly and Donald Stanford

Forensic Sci Rev 37:67-71 (July 2025)

This publication examines the regulatory ambiguities surrounding hemp-based products containing delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol

The authors explore how the 2018 Farm Bill’s definition of hemp created a paradox, leading to a proliferation of potent psychoactive products that are widely available without medical supervision.

The commentary also highlights the potential public health hazards and contaminants found in these products.

The 2018 Farm Bill’s Hemp Definition and Legal Challenges to State Laws Restricting Certain THC Products

By Dorothy C. Kafka

20 Aug 2025

congress.gov

The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as cannabis with a maximum of 0.3% delta-9 THC, removing it from the controlled substances list. This led to a legal paradox where products with other intoxicating THCs, like delta-8, became widely available. Federal agencies and courts have issued conflicting guidance on whether these products are considered legal hemp or illegal synthetic THC, leading to ongoing legal challenges to state regulations.

Cannabidiol and Liver Enzyme Level Elevations in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial

By Jeffry Florian, PhD; Pablo Salcedo, MD; Keith Burkhart, MD, et al

JAMA Intern Med

Published Online: July 7, 2025; 2025;185;(9):1070-1078. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2025.2366

A clinical trial found that 8 of 151 healthy adults who took a daily dose of CBD representative of consumer use had elevated liver enzyme levels, while no one in the placebo group did. These findings document hepatic transaminase elevations and eosinophilia in healthy adults exposed to unregulated CBD products. The results underscore the need for further investigation into long-term safety.

High Marks: Dr. Robin Goldstein’s State Weed Rankings (Q1 2026)

Released by: UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute (CPI)

Author: Robin S. Goldstein, Ph.D.

This comprehensive report provides a qualitative and data-driven analysis of the cannabis and hemp industries across the United States. Rather than ranking states by current revenue alone, Dr. Goldstein evaluates each market through the lens of long-term viability and competitiveness in an inevitable future of legal interstate commerce.

The Q1 2026 edition highlights critical shifts in the national landscape, including:

• The rise of business-friendly markets: An analysis of how states like Oklahoma and Missouri are leveraging low input costs (e.g., such as labor and electricity) to position themselves as future national exporters.
• Regulatory and tax impacts: A deep dive into the “taxpocalypses” and regulatory hurdles in mature markets like California and Minnesota that have impacted their legal market share.
• The hemp-cannabis intersection: Evaluation of how state-level hemp definitions and “total THC” standards are reshaping the economic landscape for beverages, gummies, and THCa flower.

This publication serves as a vital resource for researchers, policymakers, and investors seeking to understand the regulatory factors that allow certain state weed industries to thrive while others remain stagnant.

The R3CR website will serve as a repository for open-access resources, including preclinical and clinical information. Our online resources will include: