The United States Department of Agriculture has issued issued interim rules governing the commercial cultivation of hemp. A mandatory 60-day public comment period begins October 24 following publication in the Federal Register.
Legislation enacted in late 2018 mandated USDA promulgate regulations to facilitate the licensed production of industrial hemp and products containing cannabinoids derived from the plant. Under the federal law, cannabis containing less than 0.3 percent THC was federally legalized, and no longer controlled as a schedule 1 narcotic.
Greg Ibach, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, said that in addition to comments, the agency expects to use the 2020 growing season to test drive the interim rule and guide adjustments for the final rule.”
Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, who spearheaded the 2018 Farm Bill, said that the USDA’s latest actions “will help farmers around the country continue pioneering this crop into the 21st century. … There will inevitably be ups and downs as this new industry develops, but today’s announcement is another crucial step (forward).”
