Given the cannabidiol (CBD) from hemp or hemp flower business explosion, privately-owned hemp and CBD-from hemp businesses may buy and sell hemp futures while engaging in its regular line of business—creating and producing CBD from hemp and other hemp products, including smokable hemp flower—effectively expanding the commodification of the “flower.” Traditionally, such “in-house” futures trading was permissible in two ways: (1) hire a trader internally to buy and sell futures; or (2) create a separate entity to buy and sell futures. A company’s preferred choice depended upon two factors: (1) the business or its affiliate is deemed a commodity pool; or (2) the business’ commodity pool operator (CPO) and/or commodity trading advisor (CTA) would have to register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the National Futures Association (NFA).

A Hemp Futures Exchange’s Regulatory Underpinnings

A “commodity pool” is an investment trust, firm, or other business, operating for the purpose of trading commodities such as futures, raising capital or “pools” investments through the sale of shares or limited partnerships, using capital to invest entirely or partially in commodity contracts by trading like a hedge or private equity fund. See 7 U.S.C. §2; 13 Commodities Reg. §17A:1; and Lopez v. Dean Witter Reynolds, 805 F.2d 880, 884 (9th Cir. 1986).

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