NMSU Regents approve NMDA’s proposed hemp cultivation rule

NMSU Regents approve NMDA’s proposed hemp cultivation rule

Interested hemp growers must apply for license with NMDA

(Las Cruces, New Mexico) – The New Mexico State University Board of Regents approved the New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s proposed hemp cultivation rule at its special meeting Nov. 29.

The rule establishes:

§  Licensure requirements

§  Fee caps

§  Inspection/sampling/testing requirements

Legal authority authorizing the rule is granted to the board of regents of New Mexico State University under Chapter 76, Article 24, Section 1, NMSA 1978 Compilation.

Hemp cultivation rule background:

The 2014 farm bill included the first provision of federal law, which allowed for hemp production and research. The farm bill grants departments of agriculture and institutions of higher education the authority to pursue hemp production if allowed under state law.

During the 2017 New Mexico legislative session, Senate Bill 6 (SB 6) was passed and chaptered into law. SB 6 granted NMDA the authority to develop a hemp program and promulgate rules for the administration of that program, which would complement federal law. State statute also grants persons and institutions of higher education the ability to apply for a hemp production license through the NMDA.

NMDA held five rulemaking hearings and received public comments throughout the state in October.

The full text of the rule is available at www.nmda.nmsu.edu and at NMDA, which is located at 3190 S. Espina in Las Cruces.

Hemp cultivation license applications will not be available until the rule is filed and published in the New Mexico Register. Interested individuals should visit the NMDA website at www.nmda.nmsu.edu after Dec. 11 for an update on the rule status.

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– NMDA –