Can I Grow Hemp at Home?
With the legalization of CBD-hemp products, we are often asked if it’s legal to grow hemp plants at home? As we are planning our gardens, wouldn’t it be fun to grow some hemp with your tomatoes and zucchinis? Unfortunately, for the majority of people around the country, the answer is probably “not likely”.
If it’s federally legal for farmers to grow hemp why can’t someone grow it at home? While the 2014 Farm Bill legalized the production of industrial hemp in the United States for the first time in many years, it’s written for the agricultural community. And even then, each farmer must register with their states’ department of agriculture and meet strict cultivation standards.
“Unfortunately, the US Farm Bill didn’t address federal law regarding residential growing.”
Under the 2014 Farm Bill, each state must establish a licensed hemp program to regulate hemp farming within its jurisdiction. That means that each farmer must apply for and receive a license from their respective department of agriculture to grow hemp. It’s unlikely that an individual would be able to comply with such detailed requirements. Currently, only two states, Idaho and Mississippi have not submitted plans to allow the legal cultivation of industrial hemp.
The 2014 Farm Bill defines “industrial hemp” as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.” 7 U.S.C.
And, while it seems a bit crazy, growing hemp at home most likely falls under state marijuana cultivation laws. Some states allows only those with an official medical marijuana license to cultivate cannabis, while recreational states like Colorado allow any resident to grow their own cannabis. But, even in Colorado there are strict regulations for anyone growing cannabis.
In Colorado, marijuana plants must be kept in an enclosed, locked area that can’t be viewed openly. This means the plants can’t be outside.
Since hemp and marijuana essentially come from the same plant, it doesn’t really matter whether you grow hemp or marijuana under state laws. To help the gardeners and Green Thumbs, , the website productiongrower.com has compiled a list of each state’s guidelines for cannabis cultivation. Before you plant those seeds next to the tomatoes, always check local laws for specific rules regarding personal cannabis cultivation!
While personal hemp cultivation is not an option for most people, state and federals laws are always changing. If it is legal in your area, Boulder Hemp is giving away a free bag of 10 novelty hemp seeds with the purchase of $120 worth of Boulder Hemp products.