The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reportedly revoking hemp licenses for farmers who are simultaneously growing cannabis under state-approved programs, underscoring yet another policy conflict stemming from the ongoing federal prohibition of some forms of the cannabis plant.
After hemp was federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, states quickly got to work developing rules to allow farmers to enter the market, while others opted for USDA’s generic plan. Farmers in states operating under that latter category say they’ve faced threats to abandon any plans to cultivate both hemp and cannabis.
It’s not clear how many farmers have been contacted by USDA regarding the issue, but Vermont-based farmer Sam Bellavance told Seven Days that, months after he began growing cannabis under his state’s program, he received an email from a USDA official that said “regulations don’t allow for a hemp-licensee to also be producing cannabis, even if licensed to do so by a state program.”
James Pepper, chair of the Vermont Cannabis Control Board (CCB), said that it’s not just hemp farmers who are confused by the policy. “I think there’s confusion at the USDA about if this is possible or not,” he said.
Read more at marijuanamoment.net