SB533

Senate Bill 533 establishes a regulatory framework for 'consumable hemp products' in Arkansas under the jurisdiction of the Arkansas Tobacco Control Board. The bill amends existing state laws to define industrial hemp and consumable hemp products, specifically prohibiting products marketed for intoxicating effects. It establishes a licensing and permitting system for manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of these products. The bill also mandates that consumable hemp products meet specific safety and testing requirements through approved laboratories. It creates the 'Arkansas Tobacco Control Revenue Fund' to support the administrative, enforcement, and educational efforts of the Arkansas Tobacco Control Board regarding these products. Furthermore, the bill updates the Uniform Controlled Substances Act to clarify which hemp-derived substances are excluded from the definition of marijuana and Schedule VI controlled substances. The legislation is intended to protect public health by regulating the sale and distribution of non-intoxicating hemp products while preventing the proliferation of intoxicating ones.