Industrial hemp plants grown in a controlled greenhouse environment| UF/IFAS Video Even before the Hemp Cultivation Act passed in 2018, South Carolina had strict hemp production laws. The state`s pilot program allowed the license to only 40 farmers in the state. The state of Utah legalized hemp in December 2018. Residents of Utah are not required to register to process CBD oil in that state. However, a license is required if farmers want to grow hemp on their farms. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 directed the USDA to develop a regulatory program for hemp monitoring. The bill includes provisions allowing the USDA to approve plans submitted by states and Native American tribes for domestic hemp production. It also establishes a federal plan administered directly by the USDA for producers in Native American tribe states or territories that do not have their own USDA-approved plan and hemp production is legal. The 2018 Farm Bill allows states and tribes to submit a plan and apply for a primary regulatory authority over hemp production in their state or tribal territory. As described in the USDA`s preliminary final rule, a state plan must include certain requirements, such as land tracking, methods of analysis, and removal of plants or products that exceed the permitted concentration of THC. Within 60 days, the USDA will review plans submitted by a state to the agency and make a decision with the goal of giving states sufficient time to implement their plan before the 2020 hemp season. USDA provides updated information on the status of submitted state and tribal plans. Farmers grow hemp for manufacturers looking for cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN) and cannabigerol (CBG) for their oils, lotions, foods and beverages.
They grow hemp for textiles, food, insulation and pet litter. To date, researchers have identified more than 25,000 uses of hemp, according to various sources. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture plans to plant a minimum of 1300 acres by the end of 2019, three times more than in 2018. The year 2020 will see hemp cultivation in full swing in this state. The Oregon Department of Agriculture is widely praised for its regulatory and agricultural expertise and ensures that hemp growers understand the rules and best practices for growing and harvesting hemp. The Colorado Department of Agriculture`s Industrial Health Program deals with hemp cultivation in the state. It was one of the first states to legalize hemp in 2014. For a summary of state laws regarding industrial hemp, click on the states on the map below or see the table for a complete list of state laws.
As we know, some states are excellent for growing hemp, two are currently atrocious and the others are somewhere in the middle. In other words, many states do not threaten, but they do not support them either. A major cause of heartburn among farmers was the potential of a hemp plant to achieve a THC concentration above the 0.3% threshold. Unfortunately, seeds grown in two different geographic regions can express certain traits differently, i.e. the same type of seed grown in two different regions of the country can produce one crop with THC concentrations below 0.3% and another with plants above this THC threshold. Forty-eight states and Puerto Rico considered more than 200 bills related to hemp production and regulation in 2019. At least six states — Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Iowa, Ohio and Texas — have enacted laws establishing state programs. South Dakota passed the House bill in 1191, which was vetoed by the governor. Other states like Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Maryland have passed laws to expand or rename existing programs. New Hampshire has established a study committee (House Bill 459). Mississippi also created a task force to study hemp cultivation (House Bill 1547). The UF/IFAS Hemp Research and Extension Program continues work to identify varieties and production recommendations that can be used by growers and are also environmentally friendly.
Florida`s subtropical climate and markets are very different from other places that currently grow and sell hemp. While most hemp seeds and plant material on the market are suitable for these other locations, UF/IFAS had to start researching strains and varietal trials to identify existing hemp genetics that will grow well in Florida`s diverse soils, climates, and latitudes. The Nevada Department of Agriculture has legalized hemp cultivation in the state for eligible farmers. It is currently working on permits and ways to regulate the production of this plant. The limitation of hemp cultivation areas has not yet been determined. The federal government legalized hemp cultivation in 2018, but processing hemp cultivation in Arizona began in August 2019. About 200 residents were given permission to grow hemp for a year with proper background checks. Hemp has the potential to improve the lives of many Americans, including those who grow it. The difference in monetary value between an acre of corn and a morning of hemp is astronomical. The difference in sustainability between a hectare of hemp and a hectare of trees grown for paper is incredible. On July 30, 2019, the Ohio Senate unanimously removed industrial hemp from the list of controlled substances and legalized its cultivation in the state.
This assessment is unlikely to change in the future, but hemp`s status is being closely monitored. The FDACS hemp permit is designed as part of non-native species planting permits and requires an environmental containment plan. But at least one state, Mississippi, is falling into “bad” territory because there is no regulatory framework for hemp. So far, it has shown little progress in passing such laws and offers no legal way to grow or sell the crop. Although laws vary from state to state, it is more or less legal to produce hemp in most U.S. states. America is finally getting its base farm back. This can greatly benefit America, as it will revolutionize many of its key industries – textiles, biomass, natural gas, building materials and others. Times have obviously changed.
Drive on country roads in many states across the country and discover acres of hemp fields. As a result, the only legal option for a grower to grow hemp in Mississippi is currently to obtain a hemp license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the USDA`s Domestic Hemp Production Program. To apply for a USDA hemp production license, you must create an account through the Electronic Hemp Management Platform (HeMP) and use HeMP to file a USDA hemp application and a copy of your FBI criminal record. Instructions on how to obtain the FBI report can be found here: FBI Criminal History Report. An applicant will not receive a USDA hemp production license if they have been convicted of a crime related to a controlled substance within the last 10 years. Once issued, USDA hemp production licenses are active for three years, unless the state of Mississippi elects to administer a state hemp production program.