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Idaho officials and industry describe strict hemp rules, high program costs and growth prospects
Summary
Director Chanel Tewalt of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture told the House Agriculture Affairs Committee that Idaho's hemp program is stricter than federal guidance and imposes 0.3% THC as the on-farm standard and 0% THC for products after processing.
Director Chanel Tewalt of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture told the House Agriculture Affairs Committee that Idaho's hemp program, established under House Bill 126 (2021) to align Idaho with the 2018 federal farm bill, is deliberately stricter than federal guidance and carries significant administrative costs.
"Idaho is much more stringent than the federal standard. . . 0.3 is the standard in Idaho," Tewalt said, explaining that the 2018 Farm Bill allows states to authorize hemp programs and sets a 1% THC threshold before a federal violation would generally be issued, but Idaho law applies a 0.3% THC limit for on-farm hemp and requires 0% THC for products after they leave a licensed processor.
Tewalt and representatives of growers and processors described multiple program features: licensing and background checks required by USDA playbook; annual inspections and on-farm testing; a requirement to harvest within 30 days of a THC…
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