Missouri Industrial Hemp Program proposes regulations

Proposed rules for the Missouri Industrial Hemp Program have been posted, and applications for interested producers are expected to be available in early December.

The rules will amend existing regulations and transition the legal growth of industrial hemp in the Show-Me State from a pilot research program to a commercially regulated industry. A public comment period will be available on the Missouri Department of Agriculture website until Dec. 1. Missouri’s final rules will incorporate citizen feedback from this process as well as federal regulatory guidance from the USDA.

Department officials anticipate that applications for the program will be made available as a fillable PDF in early December, after the comment period closes. The program is structured in two parts: registration for those who want to produce hemp and permits for those who want to sell or distribute hemp plant materials or seed to registered producers or other permit holders.

The proposed rules, additional resources and frequently asked questions are online at Agriculture.Mo.Gov/plants/industrial-hemp.