Wednesday’s business headlines

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Here’s a look at Wednesday’s business headlines.

Hemp growing bill

A bill that would legalize hemp growing in Indiana just passed the state Senate and it was overwhelmingly in favor.

Now it goes to the House where it’s expected to pass.

Governor Holcomb is in favor of it so it’s likely to become law.

Growing hemp became federally legal with last year’s farm bill and is used in CBD products.

Opioid abuse

The Food and Drug Administration plans new steps to combat the abuse of opioid painkillers.

The changes range from new dosage forms to small-quantity packaging and new research requirements on drugmakers.

The new FDA measures are further effort to stem the opioid-addiction crisis that led to an estimated 47,000 opioid-painkiller overdose deaths in 2017 alone.

Round-Up herbicide

Trace amounts of gylphosate, the active ingredient in the Monsanto’s herbicide Round-dup, a weed killed, are showing up in wine and beer.

That’s according to the U.S. Public Research Group Education Fund.

The group tested 20 products – five wines and 15 beers – and found traces of the carcinogen in 19 0f them.

A certain amount is allowed in food and beverages under U.S. environmental law and none of the beers and wines that USPIRG tested contained more than that amount.

Big tech mergers

The FTC has created a new task force to investigate the tech sector.

CNET says past mergers will be reviewed and potential undone.

Tech giants like Facebook, Amazon and Google have come under scrutiny due to their size and how they may be squeezing out the competition.