Understanding the Legalities of Growing Hemp in the US

There are 11 states in the US where it is legal to grow hemp. These states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Vermont, Washington and Oregon. Each of these states has its own advantages and regulations that hemp growers must adhere to. Colorado and Oregon are widely considered to be the best states for hemp production due to their supportive regulatory frameworks and ideal climate and soil conditions.

New York is also a great state for hemp growers as they are able to sell their products within the state. The Farm Bill does not create a completely free system in which individuals or companies can grow hemp whenever and wherever they want. Hemp producers must meet certain requirements or have an approved state or tribal hemp production plan in order to legally grow hemp. Furthermore, any cannabis plant containing more than 0.3 percent THC would be considered hemp-free marijuana or cannabis under federal law and would therefore have no legal protection under this new legislation.

When it comes to understanding the legalities of growing hemp in the US, it is important to be aware of the regulations and best practices for growing and harvesting hemp in each state. Colorado and Oregon are widely praised for their regulatory and agricultural knowledge and work closely with hemp growers to get them started. In New York, manufacturers of cannabinoid products derived from hemp tinctures, topical products, pills, beverages and the like are prohibited from using hemp that is not grown in New York. This gives New York hemp growers an enormous advantage over farmers in other states.

Idaho has its own regulations which require that the plant's total THC content, including THC-A, be equal to or less than 0.3%, and hemp transporters must submit to police searches and allow police officers to “randomly” select reasonably sized samples that do not exceed 20 grams for THC compliance testing. When submitting an application to grow hemp, farmers must provide a full criminal record report and, if the request is for a business entity, the criminal record report for each “key participant” must be provided. The Farm Bill guarantees that any cannabinoid derived from hemp will be legal only if that hemp is produced in a manner consistent with the Farm Bill, associated federal regulations, state association regulations and by a producer authorized. It is also important to note that CBD products produced by state legal, medical or adult cannabis programs are illegal products under federal law both within states and across state borders.

Understanding the legal advantages and difficulties of growing hemp is vital for everyone who grows or is thinking about growing hemp. As the climate changes and farmers become accustomed to growing this “new product”, these protections will be important. With sensible and fair regulatory frameworks such as those in Colorado and Oregon helping foster, strengthen and grow the hemp business, it is clear why these two states belong at the top of the “best” list when it comes to growing hemp.

Dewayne Padillo
Dewayne Padillo

Amateur zombie ninja. Amateur tv geek. Infuriatingly humble web enthusiast. Wannabe zombie lover. Amateur coffeeaholic.