Honorable Clifford Joseph Sr. 
Chairman 
Committee on Homeland Security and Justice 
Legislature of the U. S. V. I. 
St. Croix, VI 
 
December 3, 2025 
 
Dear Senator Joseph: 
 
On behalf of the Hemp Commission I respectfully request that you excuse me and the members of the 
Hemp Commission from the hearing scheduled for December 4, 2025.  I have been informed by your 
office, that Congress has redefined hemp, thus our jurisdiction is limited to industrial hemp and not 
consumables derived from hemp.  I have also been informed that OCR will assume the responsibility for 
regulating all consumables, thus removing us from the process.   
 
According to the federal law, all intoxicating hemp products will be disqualified from meeting the 
definition of hemp.   
 
The Hemp Commission has been meeting with the members of OCR and we will continue to collaborate 
going forward. 
 
The members of the Commission applaud you for taking the lead on this issue and we are equally pleased 
that Congress has taken the initiative to provide more clarity on the definition of hemp.   
 
Please accept this letter also as our support for your legislation and regulation of the industries, both 
Hemp and Cannabis. 
 
Thank you for your understanding and best wishes to you and your staff for the holidays.  
 
 
 
 
 
Riise E. S. Richards 
Deputy Commissioner 
Chairperson 
Hemp Commission