Utah Farmers now have the rules and regulations in place to grow industrial hemp. Lawmakers in this year’s legislative session passed two bills giving the Department of Agriculture and Food the task of organizing an industrial hemp program for local producers.

Three years ago the farm bill allowed pilot programs to grow industrial hemp for research purposes. Scott Erickson, deputy commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food said now anyone over the age of 18 who purchases a license from the state can grow the plant. The regulations for growers, processors and labeling were released this week.

“This is low THC cannabis, industrial hemp, that can be used for cosmetics, used in oils, used in medical-type products, or it’s used for fiber and those types of products as well,” Erickson said.

The THC has to be below .3 percent and that will be tested by officials from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food before each harvest.

“If it’s above .3 THC the products would have to be destroyed,” Erickson said. “We’ll determine how that happens on a case-by-case basis.” [Read more at Utah Public Radio]