Ecuador has legalized the growing of hemp, excluding it from the list substances subject to rules under the country’s Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code (COIP), and putting the plant under the jurisdiction of agriculture authorities. Ecuador’s Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock must issue hemp regulations within 120 days of the law’s enactment in late June.
Importantly, the new law sets the THC limit for hemp at a full 1.0%, following the lead of a growing number of countries which have set their THC barriers beyond the generally accepted global standard of 0.3%. Hemp plants with higher levels of THC generally contain higher levels of CBD, the most lucrative derivative of industrial hemp. Nations observing the 1.0% standard therefore have a market advantage in that sector over those where limits are lower.
Joining the 1% club
Uruguay, South Africa, Malawi and Thailand are among hemp-producing countries around the world which have set THC levels for hemp at a full 1.0%; some states in Australia also operate under that limit; in Europe, non-EU member Switzerland has an established 1.0% barrier.
Read more at hemptoday.net