Audit: New York’s Oversight of Hemp Needs Improvement

The New York State Comptroller Office has issued a report detailing areas where improvements need to be made to regulatory oversight. The 18-page report shares findings from an audit covering the period April 1, 2016 through May 31, 2019.

The report acknowledged the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets Program has expanded opportunities for industrial hemp production, but found it “does not always follow established practices when reviewing applications, conducting inspections, and sampling plants.”

Key findings include:

• The Department inspected only 57 percent of growers in the Program and tested plant THC levels for only 58 percent of the growers during 2018. According to the Department, staffing shortages and competing priorities affected its ability to inspect and sample. Incomplete records and unreliable data systems further hinder its ability to effectively monitor Program requirements.
• The Department generally accepts most grower applications, even if they are incomplete or contain risk factors that officials state they screen for during their review.

The report recommended implementing procedures for input, quality assurance and use of information; and that the Department of Agriculture and Markets develop, implement and follow clear and consistent procedures for processing program applications, conducting inspections and sampling plants.

A letter responding to the audit’s findings and recommendations was written by Jen McCormick, first deputy commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The letter is included in the report.

To see the full report, click here.