Kentucky hemp founder warns new THC cap could hit full-spectrum CBD oils

Bill Polyniak, founder of Kentucky Cannabis Company and Bluegrass Hemp Oil, says a federal hemp change taking effect Dec. 11 could push traditional full-spectrum CBD products outside the legal hemp definition. He argues the rule could blur the line between plant-derived extracts and lab-converted intoxicating cannabinoids.

Why it matters: - The federal change could affect full-spectrum CBD oils that contain naturally occurring trace THC, including products made by long-established hemp manufacturers. - Finished hemp-derived cannabinoid products with more than 0.4 milligrams per container of combined total THC and specified THC-like cannabinoids will fall outside the federal hemp definition beginning Dec. 11, 2026. - Certain other cannabinoid exclusions take effect Nov. 12, 2026. - The shift could reshape which hemp products stay on the market and how consumers compare plant-derived extracts with converted cannabinoids.

What happened: - Bill Polyniak, founder of Kentucky Cannabis Company and Bluegrass Hemp Oil, said the new federal THC limit could threaten traditional hemp extracts. - Polyniak entered Kentucky's original industrial hemp pilot program in 2014. - A March 10, 2014, Kentucky Department of Agriculture letter documents his participation in one of six authorized industrial hemp pilot programs. - Polyniak says the distinction between plant-derived full-spectrum extracts and chemically converted intoxicating cannabinoids deserves closer attention. - Bluegrass Hemp Oil is the consumer-facing brand for Kentucky Cannabis Company. - Bluegrass Hemp Oil operates retail locations at Lexington Green and in historic Midway, with online ordering available.

The details: - Kentucky Cannabis Company consolidated cultivation, extraction, formulation, manufacturing and laboratory testing into one Midway operation about six years ago. - Genesis Blend Full Spectrum CBD Oil was developed to retain naturally occurring hemp cannabinoids rather than rely only on purified CBD. - The manufacturing process centers on hemp flowers, consistent formulations and laboratory testing. - Bluegrass Hemp Oil sells full-spectrum products including Genesis Blend and provides cannabinoid education and laboratory testing information. - The company’s CBD oil guide explains product types and what consumers should look for on labels. - Delta-8 THC occurs naturally in cannabis in very small quantities, but commercial concentrations are commonly made by chemically converting CBD. - Some hemp-derived delta-9 THC products also contain THC produced through conversion rather than direct extraction from cannabis. - A 2023 peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Cannabis Research tested 53 hemp-derived delta-9 products. - Among 49 products assessed for cannabinoid origin, 24 showed evidence consistent with conversion from CBD. - The study did not establish how common conversion is across the market. - The FDA has warned about adverse events, potential reaction byproducts and pediatric exposures involving delta-8 products. - Polyniak says cannabinoid synthase genes help determine whether cannabis plants develop CBD-dominant or THC-dominant profiles.

Between the lines: - The issue is not only potency. It is also whether cannabinoids are naturally present in the plant or created through chemical conversion. - Polyniak is framing the policy debate as both a consumer-safety issue and a manufacturing-history issue for traditional hemp businesses. - He also argues that regulation should not treat every cannabinoid product the same, because packaging and access concerns differ by product category. - He points to child-resistant closures as a problem for some older adults with arthritis or reduced hand strength.

What's next: - Whether a full-spectrum product remains within the revised federal hemp definition will depend on its composition and the new law’s requirements. - The December deadline will force hemp makers and retailers to reassess formulas, labels and compliance strategies. - Polyniak says he wants the history, science and consequences for traditional CBD products understood as the rule takes effect. - More information is available in Bluegrass Hemp Oil's announcement.