[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-article-rhode-island-hemp-farmer-presses-attorney-general-candidates-on-federal-thc-limits-f00dc202":3},{"data":4},{"_id":5,"slug":6,"articleType":7,"body":8,"createdAt":16,"dek":17,"entities":18,"headline":30,"imageAlt":31,"imageUrl":32,"keyFacts":33,"language":51,"publishedAt":52,"seo":53,"sources":56,"summary":68,"updatedAt":69},"6a9d70f15457399f4e5dcf6b","rhode-island-hemp-farmer-presses-attorney-general-candidates-on-federal-thc-limits-f00dc202","regulation",[9,10,11,12,13,14,15],"Mike Simpson, co-founder of Lovewell Farms, is asking Rhode Island attorney general candidates to explain whether they will defend the state's regulated hemp industry against a federal standard he says could eliminate non-intoxicating full-spectrum CBD products. Simpson outlined his concerns in an op-ed first published by Rhode Island Current and republished by Marijuana Moment. In the column, he describes Lovewell Farms as Rhode Island's only USDA-certified organic hemp farm.","The dispute centers on a new federal definition of hemp enacted in November 2025. Outgoing Attorney General Peter Neronha, a Democrat, signed a multistate letter in October 2025 urging Congress to change the federal definition, and on August 4 he signed another letter asking Congress to reject any delay or weakening of the restrictions. Simpson argues that Neronha's participation in the October letter provided justification for a congressional vote that now threatens farmers nationwide.","Simpson argues that the federal approach reaches beyond synthetic or highly intoxicating products. The 2025 statutory text describes an exclusion for final hemp-derived cannabinoid products above 0.4 milligrams per container, combining total THC, including THCA, with other cannabinoids determined by the HHS Secretary to have, or be marketed as having, THC-like effects. This is the text of the 2025 provision, not confirmation of its current implementation date. Simpson says the threshold threatens naturally extracted full-spectrum CBD products made on his farm.","Lovewell Farms supports strong regulation of hemp products, including testing, reasonable potency limits, child-resistant packaging, accurate labeling, and restrictions on sales to minors. However, Simpson rejects descriptions of Rhode Island's regulated hemp industry as harmful or unregulated. He notes that businesses like his operate under state licenses and are subject to the same testing, potency, labeling, packaging, and age restriction requirements as the state's medicinal cannabis program.","Because Neronha is term-limited, Rhode Island will elect a new attorney general this year. Simpson is calling on candidates to answer specific questions before the primary election: whether they support Rhode Island's existing regulated hemp industry, whether naturally occurring full-spectrum CBD products should remain legal, whether they support the federal 0.4-milligram-per-container standard even when it prohibits non-intoxicating products legal under state law, and whether they will consult Rhode Island regulators, farmers, and licensed businesses before signing national policy letters.","Simpson argues that when an attorney general signs such a letter, the signature carries the authority of the state and can influence federal policy. He says Rhode Island has already chosen to regulate hemp rather than prohibit it, and the next attorney general should explain whether they intend to defend that decision or abandon it.","Clarification — September 6, 2026: We have made the opinion-column attribution explicit and clarified the combined scope of the 2025 statutory threshold. Primary sources have been added. This report does not establish the current implementation date or the legality of any individual product.","2026-09-06T13:56:01.166Z","Lovewell Farms co-founder Mike Simpson calls on candidates to clarify whether they will defend the state's regulated hemp industry against a federal 0.4 mg THC per container standard.",{"brands":19,"products":21,"markets":24,"organizations":26},[20],"Lovewell Farms",[22,23],"full-spectrum CBD products","hemp-derived cannabinoid products",[25],"Rhode Island",[27,28,29],"Marijuana Moment","Rhode Island Current","USDA","Rhode Island Hemp Farmer Presses Attorney General Candidates on Federal THC Limits","Mike Simpson, co-founder of Lovewell Farms, stands in a hemp field in Rhode Island, discussing federal THC limits affecting full-spectrum CBD products.","",[34,38,41,45,48],{"claim":35,"sourceUrl":36,"_id":37},"Mike Simpson, co-founder of Lovewell Farms, is urging Rhode Island attorney general candidates to state their positions on federal hemp policy before the primary election.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.marijuanamoment.net\u002Frhode-island-hemp-farmer-wants-attorney-general-candidates-to-answer-these-questions-op-ed\u002F","6a9d70f1723e26a876dc2551",{"claim":39,"sourceUrl":36,"_id":40},"Outgoing Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha signed a multistate letter in October 2025 urging Congress to change the federal definition of hemp, and another letter on August 4 urging Congress to reject any delay or weakening of hemp restrictions.","6a9d70f1723e26a876dc2552",{"claim":42,"sourceUrl":43,"_id":44},"The 2025 statutory text specifies a combined 0.4 mg per-container threshold for final products, covering total THC, including THCA, and other THC-like cannabinoids as determined by HHS; this summary does not verify the current implementation date.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.govinfo.gov\u002Fcontent\u002Fpkg\u002FPLAW-119publ37\u002Fpdf\u002FPLAW-119publ37.pdf","6a9d79af8a57f6a79874266c",{"claim":46,"sourceUrl":36,"_id":47},"In his op-ed, Simpson describes Lovewell Farms as Rhode Island's only USDA-certified organic hemp farm and says it was founded in 2018.","6a9d70f1723e26a876dc2554",{"claim":49,"sourceUrl":36,"_id":50},"Simpson argues that Rhode Island's licensed hemp businesses face testing, potency, labeling, packaging and age requirements comparable to the state's medicinal cannabis program. This is his characterization, not an independently verified comparison of the two legal regimes.","6a9d70f1723e26a876dc2555","en","2026-09-06T13:56:02.715Z",{"title":54,"description":55},"RI Hemp Farmer Presses AG Candidates on THC Limits","Lovewell Farms co-founder Mike Simpson asks Rhode Island attorney general candidates to clarify their stance on a federal 0.4 mg THC per container standard.",[57,60,64],{"name":27,"url":36,"trustTier":58,"_id":59},"trade","6a9d70f1723e26a876dc2550",{"name":61,"url":43,"trustTier":62,"_id":63},"Public Law 119-37 — 2025 statutory text, Section 781","official","6a9d79af8a57f6a798742668",{"name":65,"url":66,"trustTier":62,"_id":67},"August 4, 2026 multistate attorneys general letter","https:\u002F\u002Fnmdoj.gov\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002FFINAL-Letter-to-Congress-Hemp-2026.pdf","6a9d79af8a57f6a798742669","Lovewell Farms co-founder Mike Simpson is urging Rhode Island attorney general candidates to explain their positions on federal hemp policy. In an opinion column, he argues that federal restrictions threaten full-spectrum CBD businesses operating under Rhode Island's rules. His assessment of the industry's legal position is attributed to him, not presented as a VeedAtlas legal finding.","2026-09-06T14:33:19.342Z"]