California lawmakers are faced again with the long-deliberated question of whether to allow hemp extracts in food and beverages in the state. But the measure doesn’t come without a setback for hemp industry as the measure would also ban smokable flower. In addition to allowing CBD in food and beverages, the bill would also establish testing requirements for safety and ensure products don’t have more than 0.3 percent THC. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) observes nearly any product with CBD as federally illegal. Since the agency has not yet released a position on smokable hemp, it remains federally legal. The AB45 Bill Now, as California’s 2021-2022 session gets going, assembly member Aguiar-Curry has introduced AB 45, identical to last year’s AB 228, but with a more explicit reference to pet food. The bill would permit dietary supplement, food, beverage, cosmetic, or pet food to include industrial hemp or cannabinoids, extracts, or derivatives from industrial hemp. This bill would create an authorization process for hemp manufacturers who produce specified products that include industrial hemp or who produce raw hemp extract, as defined by AB45, including requirements for testing and labeling on products. The bill would require the Department of Food…