Ag Commissioner Mike Strain expects Louisiana will receive federal approval to begin selling hemp licenses to state farmers by the first of January.
Strain says obtaining one of those licenses is a bit of a lengthy process due to how regulated the industry is, but so far it appears Louisiana growers are intrigued by the plant’s possibilities.
“We have a lot of interest in growing hemp, and have had more than 300 farmers come to our sessions,” says Strain. “We will have more sessions in January where we will go over all of the rules of the road.”
Strain expects the next session to be held on January 8th or 9th. For more information about attending a hemp seminar, visit www.LDAF.la.gov
Not everyone will be allowed to get a hemp license. Because hemp is a cousin of the marijuana plant, Strain adds applicants will have to complete a State Police background check after applying because “you cannot have had any criminal felonies dealing with drugs within the last ten years,” says Strain.
Strain says after passing the background check, you won’t be able to put seeds in the ground until after they verify the product will be profitable, and legal.
“We want to make sure that you are getting hemp seeds, hemp seeds that have good germination, and that you have hemp seeds that will grow out and have less than .3% combined THC and THC-A,” says Strain.
While related to marijuana, hemp’s THC levels are so low that it is not psychoactive.
