The State Department of Agriculture is releasing details and proposed rules for growing industrial hemp in Illinois.
There’s a lot of excitement that industrial hemp production is now legal in Illinois and nationwide. Medicinal Plant Bureau Chief Jeff Cox says producers won’t be able to start up right away. “It’s important for Illinois farmers to understand it is a regulated crop and a farmer can not just go out and buy hemp seed and just start planting – they do have to be licensed,” Cox said. Cox added that they plan to have an online license application system prior to that. The public will have 45 days to comment on the proposed rules, followed by a hearing for lawmakers to weigh in and approve the regulations.
