Hemp Laws Face Delays

The passage of a law in Wyoming to allow the cultivation of hemp which can be used to produce a pain reliever or to make rope has some strings attached. The USDA recently stated that they will hold state plan submissions until their rules are published in the fall of 2019 and that states may continue to operate under the provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill. Meanwhile, Wyoming is currently assessing its legal authority to issue permits prior to USDA review of its industrial hemp plan.  With the signing of House Bill 171, the Wyoming Department of Agriculture has 30 days to submit a plan to the United States Department of Agriculture to request delegated authority for the regulation of industrial hemp. In the meantime, the department says it will continue the rulemaking process for the program, working toward obtaining and installing testing equipment at the WDA Analytical Services Lab, and training employees for regulating this new permitted crop.

Jackson Hole Radio