Colorado releases regulations on hemp production; Oregon to post rules soon

Colorado has unveiled regulations for hemp farming, with several buyers already lined up to purchase the crops, while Oregon plans to post hemp rules in time for spring planting. Many states have been trying to be the first to produce legal hemp, with Colorado's Ryan Loflin (left) in October harvesting the nation's first commercial hemp crop in 56 years.

Regulations released last week in Colorado "call for farmers to register and pay a $200 annual fee, plus $1 per acre planted. Farms will be subject to inspections to make sure that the hemp plants contain no more than 0.3 percent THC," the plant's psychoactive ingredient, Steve Raabe reports for The Denver Post. The rules will be submitted this week for approval by commissioners of the state Department of Agriculture.

"Christopher Boucher of San Diego-based US Hemp Oil said his company plans to build a facility to process hemp-seed oil in the San Luis Valley" in southern Colorado, Raabe writes. "The plant initially could employ six to eight workers and grow to 50 or 60 employees, depending on the acreage planted in Colorado. But he said the facility can't start until farmers have assurance that they can buy starter seeds. Because of the federal ban on non-sterile hemp seeds, growers could in theory face criminal charges or have their foreign seed shipments confiscated by U.S. Customs agents." Barbara Filippone, owner of a Colorado-based company, EnviroTextiles, said she has plans for two factories to make hemp-based industrial products. Filippone told Raabe, "Colorado is the ideal location for market development based on location and logistics." (Read more)

Oregon "passed a law approving industrial hemp cultivation in 2009, but it was never implemented because the federal government continued to classify hemp as an illegal drug like its cousin, marijuana," Eric Mortensen reports for the Capital Press. "Oregon’s law requires hemp growers and manufacturers to obtain a permit from the state. The statue requires a minimum growing operation of 2.5 acres. THC levels would have to be certified as well." The Oregon Department of Agriculture intends to adopt production rules in time for spring planting should farmers want to go that route, a department spokesman said. (Read more)