Senator Scott Wilk, representing the 21st Senate District, announces Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 153 (SB 153) into law. SB 153 ensures California law is in full compliance with changes to federal law regarding the cultivation of industrial hemp. SB 153 requires the Secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), in consultation […]
Industrial hemp
The new weed on the block: hemp
In 2014, Kentucky farmer Brian Furnish was looking for ways to diversify his crops. His family had been growing tobacco for eight generations, but the market was withering. If he wanted to keep his farm profitable, he needed something new to grow. So he helped pioneer Kentucky’s hemp industry, a new crop the state was […]
The Criminal Hemp Processing Case That Could Have A Profound Effect On The Oregon Hemp Industry
There’s a battle brewing in Oregon state court that may have a serious impact on Oregon’s industrial hemp industry. We’re writing to clarify the issues and provide additional context for this highly controversial case. What’s happening? Key Compounds (“Key”), an Oregon Department of Agriculture (“ODA”)-registered industrial hemp handler (i.e., processor) in Albany, Oregon, and its […]
Virginia’s Cannabis Industry: A 2019 Legislative Session Rundown
Bipartisan support for Medical Cannabis and Hemp legislation likely to spur growth In Virginia’s 2019 General Assembly (GA) Session, five of six proposed cannabis-related bills passed and will soon reach the desk of the Governor, ushering in some significant changes to the Commonwealth’s medical cannabis program. Among them, allowing full therapeutic-strength medical cannabis preparations, and […]
Federal Courts Are Split on the Legality of Transporting Hemp and CBD in Interstate Commerce
By Ian Stewart When the 2018 Farm Bill was signed by President Trump on December 20, 2018, there was widespread optimism that hemp and hemp-derived products, including cannabidiol (CBD), soon would be freely moving in interstate commerce without interference by state and local authorities. That optimism may have been premature. State and local governments across […]
The 2018 Farm Bill – What it Means for Hemp Farmers’ Tax Bill
CPA Covers The Income Tax Implications for Hemp Farms after the new 2018 Farm Bill The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) has officially been signed into law. One of the major components of this legislation of industrial hemp. This blog post will mainly focus on what the tax implications of this legalization and […]
McConnell Says Industrial Hemp Will Be In Farm Bill
Farm bill negotiators in Congress have struggled to resolve differences over work requirements for food stamp recipients, but the Senate’s top Republican guarantees the final version will include legalization of hemp. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that completing work on a new farm bill looms as one of his top priorities when Congress […]
Amendment X: Why an ‘industrial hemp’ question on Colorado’s ballot is important to a fledgling agricultural industry
Imagine if Colorado, a pioneer in the nation for legalized marijuana, ended up locked out of a competitive advantage if the federal government relaxes its own rules for growing hemp. You can almost hear Alanis Morissette adding a verse to her famous song. But that could happen, say those in Colorado’s hemp industry who are counting […]
California Passes Industrial Hemp Legislation
We’ve been closely following the trajectory of SB 1409 and on September 30, 2018, Governor Brown signed the bill which will go into effect on January 1, 2019. This legislation is a huge step for California cannabis, in that it will add an industrial hemp pilot program to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s […]
How legalization of hemp can help New York industry
Trees with fading leaves of early fall surrounded a wide field near Livingston at Old Mud Creek Farm, the home of Hudson Hemp. The site is one of the few legal hemp farms in the state, and may be a harbinger of what could become an agricultural economic driver in New York. “Hemp has tremendous […]
Florida Hemp Program Greenlit and Gearing for Growth
The fledgling pilot project led by University of Florida scientists to explore the potential of producing industrial hemp across the state is getting wings thanks to initial funding from a private partner. Green Roads Inc. has reportedly invested $1.3 million to sponsor the first phase of the UF/IFAS research program. The funds will go to support field trials currently […]
Colorado Loosens Hemp Testing Restrictions
A trio of state health and regulatory agencies have come to an agreement on how to test industrial hemp products in Colorado. In a joint bulletin issued Friday, September 21, the Colorado departments of Public Health and Environment, Agriculture and Revenue announced looser restrictions for licensed marijuana testing labs that wish to test industrial hemp and hemp-derived CBD products. Previously, […]
Edible hemp oil stores arrive in Minnesota, and are proving hugely popular
The first retail store specializing in the sale of pain-relieving, edible hemp products in the Twin Cities is now open. CBD of Maplewood opened last month, and while other retail chains such as GNC now offer hemp oil products, this is the retailer in Minnesota dedicated solely to it. The store carries products manufactured in […]
Delaware bill allowing industrial hemp farming now law
A measure to legalize marijuana was not passed the last legislative session, but a bill paving the way for industrial hemp and another bill allowing for the expungement of marijuana-related convictions were. Gov. John Carney has recently signed them both into law. During a two-day, bill-signing extravaganza, Aug. 28 and Aug. 29, Carney signed 29 […]
New Mexico Moves Closer To Allowing Hemp Cultivation
The state Department of Agriculture is proposing rules that would allow the growing of hemp in New Mexico – a key step in carrying out a 2017 law that Gov. Susana Martinez opposed. The rules outline licensing and testing requirements to ensure that hemp – a relative of marijuana – doesn’t have high levels of […]
Utah Officials Give Green Light For Industrial Hemp Production
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 […]
Texas farmers see new source of green in legal hemp
Take a trip down the aisle of the nearest Whole Foods Market and it won’t take long to fill a shopping basket with products trumpeting the health and beauty benefits of a commodity Texas farmers are forbidden to grow: hemp. Lotions, shampoos and shower gels boasting hemp’s essential oils and antioxidants. Shelled seeds, or hemp […]
Illinois Governor Rauner Signs Bill Lifting Industrial Hemp Ban
After clearing the General Assembly with near–unanimous support, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law Senate Bill 2298, which lifts restrictions on the production of industrial hemp in Illinois, effective immediately. Industrial hemp fibers can be used for products ranging from building materials and textiles to cosmetics and health food, for example, through processes that reduce safety and environmental hazards. Filed in January by state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, […]
