Grow Hemp in Pennsylvania
1) How has the 2018 Farm Bill Impacted Pennsylvania?
The last four years have seen hemp growing in Pennsylvania. Since the program's modest start in 2017, with the issuance of 14 hemp research permits issued and 36 acres grown under the authority of Pennsylvania's Industrial Hemp Research Act of Jul. 20, 2016, P.L. 822, No. 92 and legitimized by the 2014 Farm Bill, hemp has seen a major increase in the commonwealth.
In 2021, the Department has issued 426 growing permits (includes 9 research permits) and 64 processing permits (includes 2 research permits). The Department is committed to continuing to foster the conditions for Pennsylvanians to grow a profitable, sustainable, and in-demand hemp product. Since the 2018 Farm Bill allowed hemp to be grown commercially and outside of a research pilot program, Pennsylvania’s USDA-approved Hemp Program now issues permits under the PA Hemp General Permit authorized by the Act relating to Controlled Plants and Noxious Weeds (3 Pa.C.S.A. section 1501 et seq.).
2) What are the Updates/ Changes made to PA Hemp Growing Requirements?
These are changes which will be beneficial for Pennsylvania’s hemp growers. These include:
Increasing the 15-day harvest window to a 30-day harvest window.
Allowing for remediation of non-compliant lots through flower removal from stalks or blending whole plants into biomass.
Adjusting the definition of a negligent violation from occurring when a lot tests above 0.5% Total THC to occurring only when a lot test above 1% Total THC.
Reducing the accrual of violations from one for every lot testing above the negligent level to only one violation per season for permit holders with lots above the 1% negligent level.
Changing the size of the sample clippings from 2 inches of floral tip to 5-8 inches of floral bud.
Delaying the enforcement of requirement to use DEA-registered labs for testing until January 1, 2022.
3) What are some of the uses of hemp?
There are thousands of uses for hemp. Some of those include: fibrous stem products (paper products, molded plastics, textiles, construction materials, etc.); seed products (food products for human consumption, culinary oil, body care products, fuel, etc.) and floral/foliar products (CBD extracts). Part of the development of a hemp industry is to determine what the most appropriate uses are for Pennsylvania in terms of growth, production and processing of hemp.
4) How can I apply to grow hemp in Pennsylvania?
Interested persons or businesses should carefully review Pennsylvania's Hemp General Permit and fill out the 2021 Pennsylvania Hemp Permit Application (PDF). It is also strongly advised to review the 2021 Application Instructions and the Checklist for Application and Permit Responsibilities, both available at agriculture.pa.gov/hemp. The deadline for application submission is April 1, 2021.
5) How many hemp permits will be issued in 2021?
There is no limit to the number of permits or the amount of hemp that will be permitted for the 2021 growing season. Any application that meets all requirements of the program will be approved.
6) I had a hemp permit in 2020. Do I need to apply for a permit again in 2021?
Yes. The 2020 permit holders will need to renew their permits for 2021. The permits expire on December 31st of each year; however, because the release of the 2021 application/renewal form is delayed, 2020 permit holders were issued a permit extension through February 2021. If renewing permit holders wish to grow or process at new locations, they must submit property information for those locations and be issued additional permit numbers.