The US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has outlined how states and tribes can submit plans that enable producers to cultivate hemp in their respective areas. Hemp is legal in the United States, but with stringent restrictions. Research on hemp is still essential. Hemp growers are treated like other farmers.
If your state or tribe does not have a pending or approved hemp production plan, you can apply for a USDA hemp production license. To obtain a license to grow hemp under the USDA program, create an account using the Hemp Management Platform (HemP) and use HemP to file a USDA hemp application. Applications for USDA hemp production are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year. If you are a licensed hemp grower, first check with your licensing body (state or tribe) to find out where your hemp can be tested, as requirements vary from program to program. The standard also establishes a USDA plan to regulate hemp production in states or areas where hemp production has been legalized, but there is no approved state plan.
Second, Kentucky, the leader's home state, is one of the best places in the world to grow hemp, and before the ban, the state had a strong hemp industry. This paper will further evaluate the possible invasion of hemp in natural areas and will report on best management practices for growing hemp and transporting seeds to reduce the risk of invasion. State legislatures have taken steps to establish state-licensed hemp programs and promote hemp as an agricultural product in recent years. The regulations (pdf) found in the Final Rule in 7 CFR, Part 990, “Domestic Hemp Production”, describe the requirements necessary for states and tribes to administer regulatory programs for hemp production within their limits. Each state or tribal plan provides details on the practices and procedures that allow hemp producers to grow hemp in their jurisdiction and in accordance with federal laws. Where can I find hemp seeds or clones to start growing hemp? For hemp producers licensed under an approved state and tribal plan, contact your state representative or hemp program for sampling requirements, as requirements vary from program to program.
The Farm Bill ensures that any cannabinoid, a set of chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant and derived from hemp, is legal, as long as that hemp is produced in a manner consistent with the Farm Bill, associated federal regulations, associated state regulations and by a producer authorized. At least 47 states have enacted laws to establish hemp production programs or allow research on hemp cultivation. In addition, section 7501 of the Agriculture Act expands hemp research by including hemp under the Agricultural Materials Act. In states that choose not to design a regulatory program on hemp, the USDA will build a regulatory program under which hemp growers in those states must apply licenses and comply with a federally administered program.
