New Mexico finalizes hemp rules in time for 2019 crop

New Mexico authorities have finalized hemp rules in time for farmers to produce the state’s first legal harvest in 2019.

The regulations proposed by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture were approved late last week.

New Mexico will set different hemp fees for outdoor grows versus indoor or greenhouse grows. Prospective hemp producers will have to pay:

• $800 a year to grow hemp outside, plus an annual inspection fees of $6 per acre.
• $900 a year for a “continuous production” license to grow hemp indoors or in a greenhouse, plus an annual inspection fee of 75 cents per 1,000 square feet.

The regulations do not include any application or processing fees.

New Mexico has no background-check requirements for potential hemp producers. The state also has no requirements that growers use certified seed varieties.

New Mexico lawmakers authorized hemp production in 2017, but Republican Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed the bill.

Her veto was overturned on procedural grounds in spring 2018, too late to see New Mexico agriculture authorities write hemp rules in time for a legal crop this year.

The New Mexico health department has said that the state’s 72 medical marijuana dispensaries can’t sell CBD products produced outside New Mexico.

The requirement does not apply to traditional retailers such as natural foods stores.