Hemp Production

HEMP CULTIVATION IN HAWAII

Individuals and entities who wish to grow hemp in Hawaii must acquire a hemp production license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Domestic Hemp Production Program and comply with the following state requirements:

  1. Any person convicted of a felony related to a controlled substance under state or federal law is prohibited from producing hemp, or being a key participant in an entity producing hemp, for a period of ten years following the date of conviction;
  1. Hemp growth can only occur in the state agricultural district;
  2. Hemp shall not be grown 500 feet of pre-existing real property comprising a playground, childcare facility, or school;
  3. Hemp shall not be grown within 500 feet of any pre-existing house, dwelling unit, residential apartment, or other residential structure that is not owned or controlled by the license holder;
  4. Hemp shall not be grown in any house, dwelling unit, residential apartment, or other residential structure.

Applications for USDA hemp production licenses must be submitted directly to the USDA.  The application may be viewed here: USDA Hemp Application (PDF).  When applying for a USDA hemp production license, the applicant must provide a copy of an FBI criminal history report.  Instructions on how to obtain the report from the FBI may be viewed here: FBI Criminal History Report.  An applicant will not receive a USDA hemp production license if the applicant has been convicted of a felony related to a controlled substance in the last 10 years.  Once issued, USDA hemp production licenses are active for three years unless the State of Hawaii elects to administer a State hemp production program or ban hemp production in the State.

Due to remote work conditions in Washington, D.C., the USDA strongly encourages all applications be sent electronically to [email protected] for expedited processing.

Alternatively, completed applications can be mailed with a copy of the FBI criminal history report to USDA/AMS/Specialty Crops Program, Hemp Branch, 470 L’Enfant Plaza S.W., Post Office Box 23192, Washington D.C. 20026.

All requirements and information related to the USDA hemp program may be viewed at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/hemp.  If you have questions, please email [email protected] or call 202-720-2491.

 

HEMP TRANSPORTATION

Use this form to report the transportation of hemp outside of a field of legal cultivation HP-1 Transportation Report

Who: Only USDA licensed hemp producers may transport hemp outside of a field of legal cultivation.

What:  Any planned transportation (including importation, inter-island, intra-island, and exportation) of the following must be reported:

    • Live hemp plants, propagative plant parts, viable seeds
    • Harvested hemp floral material in raw botanical form (including dried)
    • Harvested hemp leaf material in raw botanical form (including dried).

When:  A transportation report must be submitted at least three business days prior to the date of transportation.

A report is NOT required for transportation of the following:

    • Hemp products/processed hemp
    • Mature stalk material
    • Retted fiber
    • Non-viable seed

NOTE: Any transportation of hemp must abide by all applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to state requirements regarding the importation, inter-island transportation, or exportation of live seed, live plants, and cut flowers.  See https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/pq/ for more information on import, export, and in state movement of live seed, live plants, and cut/fresh plant materials which may be applicable to your planned transportation.

Send the completed Transportation Report to: [email protected] as a single attachment.

Or by mail to:

Quality Assurance Division
ATTN: Hemp
1851 Auiki St.
Honolulu, HI 96819

NOTE: If mailing, you must ensure that the report will arrive three business days prior to the planned transportation.

Program Contact: [email protected]