Iowa Beverage Companies File Lawsuit Challenging State Changes To THC Potency Restrictions
Two Iowa-based beverage manufacturers, Climbing Kites and Field Day Brewing Co., have initiated legal action against the state’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), challenging new THC potency restrictions. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, arises from concerns over the state’s interpretation of laws regulating THC levels in hemp-derived products, reported Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Legal Dispute Arising From Recent Changes
In 2019, the Iowa Legislature passed the Iowa Hemp Act, aligning state law with the 2018 federal farm bill to legalize hemp production and exempt hemp from the state and federal definitions of marijuana. This legislation facilitated the creation of hemp-based consumables within the state, with a subsequent bill in 2020 capping THC concentrations at 0.3% or less.
However, the landscape shifted dramatically in 2024 when House File 2605 was passed, redefining THC potency limits. The law, effective July 1, sets a new threshold of no …