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Committee considers industrial hemp bill that preserves THC thresholds and adds remediation for marginal tests
Summary
Representative McCabe said HB 325 aligns Alaska law with federal hemp standards, preserves the 0.3% THC limit and proposes remediation for crops testing between 0.3% and 1% to avoid automatic destruction. Farmers and seed certification advocates urged sensible remediation and raised cross-pollination concerns.
Representative Rhett McCabe told the committee HB 325 updates Alaska's industrial hemp statutes to match federal law, maintain a 0.3% THC standard and prioritize remediation for crops that test between 0.3% and 1% THC. "Industrial hemp is an agricultural crop, not marijuana, and it should be regulated accordingly," McCabe said.
Growers and sector representatives testified in support and described practical concerns. Sarah Williams of Sacred Seeds Foundation said cross-pollination with nearby cannabis or even sunflowers can raise THC levels unexpectedly and that automatic crop destruction penalizes farmers for circumstances often beyond their control. "That could happen if there is an outdoor grow of a cannabis farm right next to a hemp farm...to criminalize them over something they don't necessarily have control over seems a little extra," Williams said, arguing for remediation options.
Committee members asked about a proposed 1,000-meter isolation distance, the 30-day harvest sampling window, seed certification and how the department would prioritize older operations versus new ones. Representative Carrick and others suggested that few outdoor marijuana grows exist in Alaska and that farmers tend to self-regulate; sponsors said they would consider details and potential amendments.
