Earlier this week, the U.S. Division of Agriculture despatched a letter warning to greater than 250,000 retailers that take part within the Supplemental Vitamin Help Program that accepting welfare advantages “for meals and drinks containing managed substances similar to hashish/marijuana” may end in “financial penalties, fines and/or felony prosecution.”
Within the letter, USDA Meals and Vitamin Service (FNS) Administrator James Miller stated on June fifth the division is “dedicated to combating waste, fraud, and abuse,” which incorporates “taking swift motion to remove fraud occurring within the SNAP retailer group and rooting out fraudsters who make the most of the taxpayer’s generosity.”
“Your participation as a SNAP licensed retailer serves an necessary goal. Retailers join American households to nutritious meals every day,” Miller stated. “Greater than 41 million low-income individuals redeem their SNAP advantages at shops nationwide every month. SNAP is funded by American taxpayers and have to be operated with integrity and accountability. All collaborating retailers should observe the SNAP guidelines to guard taxpayer {dollars}.”
Based on Marijuana Second, the USDA didn’t precisely specify why they felt the necessity to replace the principles round hashish, but it surely additionally comes amid a sequence of modifications to the division’s FAQ web page that equally reiterates the coverage. Previously week, the FAQ’s hashish language was added and revised at the least 3 times.
As initially up to date, it stated SNAP advantages can’t go to cannabis-related or CBD food and drinks merchandise. Then it was modified to record marijuana and hashish, with out mentioning CBD. Now, within the newest replace posted on June 4th, it says that “meals and drinks containing managed substances similar to hashish/marijuana and CBD” are ineligible.
