New Ohio Hemp Rules Move Foward
As many know, growing hemp is now legal across the country. In 2018, the US Government passed the Hemp Farming of 2018 Act as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. This law removed hemp (which is, technically, low THC cannabis) from the federal list of controlled substances. In 2019, Ohio passed Senate Bill 57 which similarly removed hemp from the state’s list of controlled substance. it also set into motion the creation of framework Ohio to regulate the growing of hemp in the state.
Fast forward several months and the Ohio Department of Agriculture has created proposed rules which have been open for public comment. These rules have been forwarded to The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) which is a legislative committee consisting of members from the Ohio Senate and Ohio House. Once approved by JCARR, the rules will go to the USDA for final approval.
The proposed rules state that a licensed hemp cultivator shall not:
Plant or grow cannabis that is not hemp.
Plant or grow hemp on any site not approved by the ODA.
Plant, grow, handle or store hemp in or within 100 feet of a residential structure or 500 feet of a school or public park, unless for approved research.
Co-mingle hemp with other crops without prior approval from ODA.
Plant or grow hemp outdoors on less than one-quarter acre, indoors on less than 1,000 square feet, or in a quantity of less than 1,000 plants without prior approval from ODA.
Plant or grow hemp within half a mile of a parcel licensed for medical marijuana cultivation.
Plant or grow hemp on property that the license holder does not own or lease.
Applications for licenses to grow this must be submitted no later than March 31st.
To view the rules on growing, click here.
To view the rules on processing the hemp, once grown, click here.
