Maine’s State Hemp Program Continues For Another Year
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry (DACF) will continue its state pilot program under the 2014 Farm Bill for one more year. The state had originally submitted a plan for a USDA-compliant hemp licensing program in August to meet an October deadline, but the state was later given the option by USDA to continue its state pilot program for one more year.
Meanwhile, there is state legislative work to be done. To implement a USDA approved plan, amendments will need to be in place to bring state statutes into conformance with the federal rule. Once the new statutes are in place the Department will have to amend the current licensing rules in CMR 01-001 Chapter 274 to fully implement an approved state plan for the 2022 growing season. Because the federal rule requires a 10-year prohibition on licensing if an applicant has been convicted of a felony related to controlled substances, 5 MRSA § 5303 will need to be amended. Several changes are needed to 7 MRSA § 2231 including defining ‘key participants’ in a hemp farm operation, removing the exemption from licensing of the three personal use hemp plants per adult, and removing confidentiality around hemp business location information since states and growers will need to regularly report location information to Maine’s USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).
A hearing for this bill (LD 33), which is titled “An Act To Improve the Laws Governing Hemp by Bringing Them into Compliance with Federal Law“, is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2021 at 10 a.m.. Due to Covid-19, proceedings are not in-person but are available online. Anyone interested in submitting testimony can do so electronically.
Visit DACF’s hemp web page to learn more.
