Cannabis farmers have been left at the mercy of government regulation, which has destroyed many family-run businesses and small farms.
Congressional lawmakers have introduced a bill to help these small cannabis producers ship and sell their products directly to consumers, allowing these growers to compete against large corporations.
Sponsored by Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Val Hoyle (D-OR), the Small and Homestead Independent Producers (SHIP) Act is specifically targeted toward small family businesses, helping them sustain their businesses in the face of potential federal marijuana legalization.
“So when the antiquated federal prohibition on cannabis finally gets repealed, we need to have substantial legislation ready to help these small businesses survive,” said Huffman in a press release. “My legislation would ensure that folks can ship their products straight to consumers, which would both help expand small businesses and ensure farmers stay afloat.”
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This SHIP Act is a slightly revised version of another measure that was filed earlier, but was not ultimately enacted. Unlike the prior legislation, the new SHIP Act includes a requirement that the Postal Service or any other carrier transporting cannabis products must verify that the recipients are at least 21 years old.
It also clarifies that states where recreational marijuana use is illegal can continue to prohibit cannabis, but cannot prevent its transportation. The new version also stipulates an amendment to U.S. postal laws, allowing the postal service to carry and transmit cannabis.
By seeking to target small farmers, this act hopes to level the playing field between craft producers and large corporations. The act applies to “small cultivators of cannabis,” which the legislation defines as a person who cultivates one acre or less of cannabis outdoors, or 22 thousand square feet of greenhouse cultivation, or 5,000 square feet of indoor cultivation. It also applies to “small manufacturers,” which is described as a person who has a gross annual revenue of less than $5 million from all cannabis products.
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This legislation is endorsed by many cannabis organizations, according to the release, including the National Craft Cannabis Coalition and the National Cannabis Industry Association.
While the SHIP Act is a start in helping farmers compete on a wider scale, this bill is only maximally beneficial with federal legalization, which does not look to be enacted in the near future.
“The SHIP Act is a great idea and would be hugely beneficial for small craft farmers and patients if there were a robust local shipping program in place to take advantage of the interstate policy if and when full Federal legalization occurs,” said Tamara Kislak of The Good Good Farm, a craft cannabis farm in Northern California.
While the original SHIP Act was not enacted, it is unclear whether the changes to this revised SHIP Act would give it a higher likelihood of passing in Congress.