Farmers can finally apply to grow industrial hemp in Texas

The 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law in December of 2018. This bill removed hemp, defined as 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 from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act.

In June of 2019 Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed H.B. 1325 that made certain CBD and hemp products legal in Texas. It  would also allow local farmers to grow hemp as a crop. The new statute also defines anything with a THC concentration of less than 0.3 percent as hemp.

The Texas Hemp Program outline was sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for approval. It was approved back in January.

The Texas Department of Agriculture has officially adopted the rules regulating to licensing, cultivation, handling, inspections, sampling, testing, collection, transportation, research and disposal of hemp.

As of today, Texas Farmers are now able to submit an application  to grow hemp. The Texas Industrial Hemp Program's orientation video can be found at the website of the Texas Department of Agriculture.  The applications are also available at the five regional offices.

Currently the Law Office of David Sloane is only handling criminal law cases, for any questions about licensing or regulation, refer to The Texas Department of Agriculture and The Department of State Health Services.