Industrial Hemp

2018 Farm Bill

Industrial Hemp is NO Longer a Controlled Substance

(There still are compliance issues to address analogous to handling of GMO seeds)

TITLE XII — MISCELLANEOUS

Subtitle F – General Provisions

Sec. 12608 Conforming Changes to Controlled Substances Act

b) TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL.—Schedule I, as set 19forth in section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 20U.S.C. 812(c)), is amended in subsection (c)(17) by inserting after ‘‘Tetrahydrocannabinols’’ the following: ‘‘, except for tetrahydrocannabinols in hemp (as defined under section 297A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946)’

Hemp Defined

The term hemp as defined within the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 as the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis

Researching Hemp Will Not Negatively Impact ANR's Federal Funding

https://nifa.usda.gov/industrial-hemp

https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/farmbill-hemp

Broadly Worded Compliance Matters For Hemp Research

On UC Property

A detailed and specific research plan
REC Director, County Director or campus approval
Sampling and testing protocol
Destruction protocol
Attestation of no felons
Signage, and GPS coordinates
Seed Sourced from a licensed seed distributor, institution of higher education seed exchange, licensed seed breeder in pilot program, no marijuana companies (pending approval).
Vetting of gifts, MTAs and Sponsored Research

Off-Property (includes on-campus requirements):

Includes the On UC Property requirements above
County commissioner approval/support
PI communicates and chooses growers
Grower Information Form filled out
MOU with ANR signed
ANR Land access agreement and data collection agreement signed
Cannot and must not promise that an agreement with UC legitimizes all commercial sales.
Vetting Cooperators

Industrial Hemp has the potential to become a leading agricultural product because of the rapid growth period, the extensive number of uses and the entirety of the plant can be utilized as a resource for production. Textiles, paper, industrial products, building materials, foods, body care, medicine, farm/garden needs, and other natural remedies are some of the major categories in which this plant can be used. Given the rate of growth and yield (tons per acre), industrial hemp is a prime source for many of California's growing needs.

However, there are many obstacles to overcome when considering Industrial Hemp research, primarily due to many U.S. government drug policy limitations which do not affect typical agronomic crops. Up until 2014 hemp was not cultivated in the US, but with the enactment of the Farm Bill there is now a clear legal path to research industrial hemp that complies with both federal and state regulations that are not applicable to any other form of Cannabis sativa L.

This website is designed to walk you through that path and provide support to research groups in hopes of filling the knowledge gaps regarding production, pest management, economic and environmental impact, and any other challenges found along the way. Through the collaboration of Industrial Hemp Research and Innovation Consortium, ANR can lead California in cultivating industrial hemp in impactful ways while supporting our strategic initiatives.

Contact

Photo of Robin G Sanchez J.D. Robin G Sanchez J.D.
Title: Director, Policies, Compliance and Programmatic Agreements
Specialty: Specialty: Policy, Compliance, California Public Records Act Requests, California Information Practices Act Requests, Privacy, Cannabis Laws, Whistleblower Investigations, Retaliation Investigations, CANRA, Subpoenas and Other Legal Matters, Delegations of Authority, Conflict of Interest for Designated Officials.
Phone: (530) 750-1235
Email: rgsanchez@ucanr.edu