Drug Scheduling Actions - 2002

Exemption from Control of Certain Industrial Products
and Materials Derived from the Cannabis Plant

Extension of Grace Period to Dispose of Existing Inventories of Non-Exempted Hemp Products

On October 9, 2001, DEA published in the Federal Register (66 FR 51,539) an interim rule which exempted from control certain THC-containing industrial products, processed plant materials used to make such products, and animal feed mixtures. With respect to those products that were not exempted from control under the interim rule, DEA provided in the interim rule a 120-day grace period to allow persons with existing inventories to dispose of such inventories. The 120-day grace period ended on February 6, 2002. However, DEA will now extend the grace period until March 18, 2002, under the same terms as previously set forth in the interim rule.

Therefore, the terms of the extended grace period are as follows:

Any person who currently possesses a THC-containing "hemp" product not exempted from control under the October 9, 2001 interim rule has until March 18, 2002 to dispose of such product. However, during this extended grace period (as was the case during the prior grace period), no person may use any THC-containing "hemp" product for human consumption (as defined in the interim rule); nor may any person manufacture or distribute such a product with the intent that it be used for human consumption within the United States.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Frank Sapienza, Chief, Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, DC 20537, Telephone (202) 307-7183.

BILLING CODE 4410-09-P

NOTICE: This is an unofficial version. An official version of this publication may be obtained
directly from the Government Printing Office (GPO).