New Handbook Available For Maine Hemp Growers

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) has issued a new handbook outlining hemp licensing in detail and includes pointers about growing this crop.

The department is encouraging those interested in growing hemp to read the handbook before applying for a license. Recommendations for content in future editions are also welcomed.

Maine’s hemp licensing program is part of DACF. The hemp growers license is the only license specifically pertaining to hemp that the State of Maine offers. It is a required license for anyone seeking to grow hemp for commercial purposes. Maine does not yet have licensing or registration programs for processing, handling, transporting or selling hemp or CBD products.

If you are a hemp processor, understand that you may need to work with other regulatory programs, depending on the nature of your final products. For example, makers of foods containing CBD should contact Quality Assurance Regulations (QAR) about kitchen licensing and labels for your products. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates CBD in medicine, food, and personal care products. We urge processors to read FDA’s regulations and advisories concerning CBD products.

To view the “Hemp Handbook — Licensing and Agronomy Primer for Growers,” visit www.maine.gov/dacf.