Industrial Hemp Now Legal at Federal Level

After years of prohibition, industrial hemp is now federally legal in America. On Dec. 26, President Trump signed off on the 2018 Farm Bill, which redefines hemp as an agricultural commodity, and more importantly, removes it from the Controlled Substances Act. That means hemp is no longer considered a Schedule 1 substance, and the Drug Enforcement Administration will no longer be able to interfere with the interstate commerce of hemp products.

This Farm Bill, which went into effect Jan. 1, is a monumental step for the industrial hemp industry, and it will finally allow the U.S. to be competitive in the global market. More than 25,000 products can be created from hemp, ranging from construction materials to cannabidiol (CBD) products used to treat various ailments.  

Wisconsin’s Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program is run by the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Growers and processors of industrial hemp have to apply for a license and re-register each growing season. By the end of November, DATCP had 179 new grower applications and 114 processing license applications for 2019.