Industrial Hemp: PA Governor Approves Growth and Cultivatio

On July 20, 2016, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed Act 92 which permits the growth and cultivation of industrial hemp for research purposes in Pennsylvania. Under Act 92, either the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture or an institution of higher education is permitted "to conduct pilot programs to research and study the growth, cultivation and marketing of industrial hemp products in the state." Sites which are selected "to grow hemp must be certified and registered with the department and authorized to oversee and enforce all regulations pertaining to the program." According to Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, Pennsylvania "lost a promising and lucrative market for the last half-century, as a result of guilty association with marijuana." The Secretary stated that "[t]here are all sorts of products that use hemp today – it's estimated to be a nearly $600 million industry in the U.S. – but those dollars are going to growers in other countries rather than our producers." According to the Secretary, the department will form a public/private member industrial hemp research advisory committee which will advise the department in the development of policies and procedures regarding the implementation of the pilot programs. The department estimates that "[f]ull implementation could take up to a year."