The Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry in Maine sent out an email recently to let interested parties know that their hemp program is now accepting new applications. The application forms are not available on the Department’s website for indoor and outdoor hemp production. Maine operates under a USDA-approved hemp licensing program. This allows licensees to market their hemp nationwide and apply for USDA loans, grants, and organic certifications. According to the new application there is one major update that could come as an update to those who have a criminal history with controlled substances. A person with a state or federal felony conviction relating to a controlled substance may not grow hemp for 10 years from the date of the conviction unless the individual was already lawfully producing hemp under section 7606 of Farm Bill 2014 before December 20, 2018, and whose conviction also occurred before that date.
Find out more and read the full application on the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry website here: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/hemp/
