Policy issues have extraordinary gravity in the hemp sector, an industry that leapt out ahead of the regulations that are far from settled today.  There is little sign that the USDA will take official action to delay the implementation of the IFR in November.  The agency reminds stakeholders that only the legislature can make this change, and it isn’t clear what other measures the USDA can take to help protect hemp producers through the transition.  Enforcement discretion is one option where they may help producers, but producers aren’t losing sleep over a looming USDA enforcement threat.  Producers may be losing sleep over whether the agency will enable a second round of funding for hemp farmers, who saw another 8% decline in hemp prices over Q2 2020. 

But the agency was never meant to be the enforcement arm of the nation’s hemp program.  There really isn’t a master plan for…