Hemp
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With the passage of the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act (U.S. farm bill), the federal government removed industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) from the list of Schedule I drugs and opened up opportunities for farmers to produce this once widely grown crop. At the time of publication, states are currently operating under the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill that allowed pilot programs for hemp production focusing on research. Georgia did not participate in the pilot program under the 2014 farm bill. Therefore, growers in Georgia must wait until the U.S. Department of Agriculture approves the Georgia state plan for outlining rules and regulations for hemp growers and processors. More information on the hemp rules and regulations can be found at agr. georgia.gov. It is anticipated that hemp growers and processors may grow for the 2020 production season. Although the brief guide that follows is not exhaustive, it is meant to provide basic information for growers who are considering hemp production of floral materials meant for the cannabinoid market. Cannabinoids may include CBD, CBG, etc. Although there has been some interest in hemp production for fiber and seed, the majority of growers have expressed an intent to grow for the CBD market. The production of hemp for fiber and seed differs greatly from that of floral material and subsequent publications will focus on these end uses. Due to the changes in rules and regulations that are likely to occur, we recommend readers look to the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the USDA for any clarification or questions they may have regarding the regulation of hemp production in Georgia.
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With the passage of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) was declassified as a Schedule I drug and is now legal (with restrictions) for production in the United States. Hemp and marijuana are both Cannabis sativa but are distinguished from each other based on the concentration of the psychoactive compound, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Industrial hemp is defined by law as a cannabis plant with total THC concentrations on a dry weight basis of less than 0.3% (+/- a measurement of uncertainty). This publication provides a basic overview of hemp testing for THC to stay in compliance with U.S. Department of Agriculture rules for hemp growers.
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This publication is an introduction to growing industrial hemp for fiber production in Georgia. While not exhaustive, it outlines some of the major production challenges in growing this crop in the Southeastern U.S.
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