Bill > AB1137

This bill amends existing California law to redefine "marijuana" to exclude "industrial hemp," which is defined as a specific type of Cannabis sativa L. plant and its seeds that contain no more than three-tenths of 1 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. This new definition, established in Section 11018.5 of the Health and Safety Code, clarifies that industrial hemp can only be cultivated and processed for its mature stalks, fiber, oil, cake, or non-germinating seeds, and explicitly prohibits the cultivation or possession of its resin or flowering tops, except for necessary testing. The bill also mandates laboratory testing of THC levels in industrial hemp crops to ensure compliance with the THC limit, with provisions for crop destruction if the limit is exceeded, and requires growers to retain and provide test reports. The context for this bill is the growing industrial hemp market, the legal distinction between industrial hemp and marijuana established by federal court rulings, and the potential economic benefits for California farmers and manufacturers.