Hemp takes one step closer to commercial growth in Kansas
December 7, 2020
The state conducted a public hearing for allowing industrial hemp to be grown commercially in Kansas. Last year, the crop was grown for research purposes.
Unless there are substantial objections to the proposed plan, the ruling should go into effect on or near Jan. 1, 2021. This would mean farmers in Kansas can grow commercial industrial hemp starting next year.
Due to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp from the federal Controlled Substances Act, and because the Commercial Industrial Hemp Act passed in Kansas in 2019, the Kansas Department of Agriculture is proposing rules and regulations K.A.R. 4-34-22 through 4-34-30 for growing commercial industrial hemp. These proposed regulations focus on licensing requirements, planting, pre-harvesting, sampling, effective disposal, transportation, violations and research.
Kenneth Titus, who serves as chief counsel to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, led the virtual and in-person meeting. He asked members of the public to state their reservations to this proposal.
