The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently clarified that the cannabinoid THCA must be included in THC concentration levels to comply with the legal definition of hemp, as specified by the 2018 Farm Bill. In a letter dated May 13, Terrence Boos, chief of the DEA's drug and chemical evaluation section, stated that THCA, which converts into delta-9 THC when heated, must be counted in THC concentration calculations. This interpretation has raised concerns within the hemp industry, which fears significant compliance issues.

In his letter, Boos explained that the legal threshold of 0.3 percent delta-9 THC applies to both delta-9 THC and THCA...