Industrial Hemp Licensing
– Industrial Hemp Licensing
Hemp has provided growers in Michigan with great opportunities since its legalization in 2018 with the passage of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill. But what is Hemp? Hemp is defined as Cannabis that has less than 0.3% which is the psychoactive ingredient, therefore Hemp is non-intoxicating.
A need for improved regulation for consumable hemp products prompted an executive order by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to move those hemp products to the Marijuana Regulatory Agency and rename it the Cannabis Regulatory Agency. The State of Michigan requires either a Hemp Grower Registration or a Hemp Processor-Handler License depending on what you plan on doing with the actual hemp. For more information about the emerging hemp fiber and grain industry, visit iHemp Michigan, a non-profit trade association serving the Midwest market.
Hemp Grower License
If you want to want, grow or harvest live hemp plants or seeds – you will need a Hemp Grower Registration with is regulated by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. There isn’t a limit on the number of plants or acres and you can grow either inside or outside. A grower can sell their harvest to a processor, but isn’t licensed to sell directly to consumers.
Hemp Processor-Handler License
A Hemp Processor-Handler License is required for anyone who intends on processing, possessing, storing, transporting, brokering, marketing, promoting, and/or selling industrial hemp. These licenses are available through the newly formed Cannabis Regulatory Agency.
In order to obtain a Hemp Grower license, individuals must download and complete the Hemp Grower Registration Application and pay a fee of $1,250. In order to obtain the Hemp Processor-Handler license, individuals must download and complete the Hemp Processor-Handler Application and pay a fee of $1,350 for a 2022 license.
Interested in obtaining a hemp license? Don’t wait. Contact us today!