2018 Farm Bill - Legalization of Hemp

The Farm Bill is a piece of legislation that is passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by the President. It covers a wide range of agricultural and food-related issues, including hemp production.

The 2018 Farm Bill, which was signed into law on December 20, 2018, contained provisions that removed hemp from the list of controlled substances and made it an ordinary agricultural commodity. This effectively legalized the cultivation, production, and sale of hemp and hemp-derived products in the United States.

Before the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp was only legally grown for research purposes under the supervision of a state agricultural department or a university. The 2018 Farm Bill established a national regulatory framework for the production of hemp and established the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as the primary regulatory agency for hemp production.

The 2018 Farm Bill also established a program for states to submit plans to the USDA for the regulation of hemp production within their borders. States that submit approved plans are able to regulate hemp production in accordance with their own laws and regulations. States that do not submit approved plans are subject to the USDA's hemp production regulations.

Overall, the 2018 Farm Bill has had a significant impact on the hemp industry in the United States, making it possible for farmers to cultivate and produce hemp and hemp-derived products for a variety of commercial and industrial purposes.