Hemp, as a variety of cannabis sativa, has been found to be a multi-use plant, impacting several markets. Some uses include: food, clothing, oil-based products, bedding, and much more. Under the current 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (“Farm Bill”), hemp was reclassified for commercial use and was removed from the Controlled Substances Act. Following the Farm Bill, states around the U.S. have enacted legislation, licensing requirements, and rules to regulate industrial hemp.
Here at The HarLaw Group, LLC, we can help you navigate the application process, whether you are a grower or a handler. Under the current Industrial Hemp Act, an individual (or legal entity, such as a corporation, LLC, etc.) must obtain a license to either grow or handle hemp, with differing requirements and fees depending on the license being sought.
Application requirements, include, but are not limited to:
- The applicant’s (either individual or entity) name and address.
- The type of business or organization (LLC, partnership, etc.).
- The legal description of the land area being used to cultivate industrial hemp.
- A map of the land area planned to grow industrial hemp, showing the boundaries and dimensions of the growing area in acre or square feet.
- For growers, an application fee of $1,000 for a three-year cultivation license, $700 for a two-year cultivation license, and $375 for a one-year cultivation license.
- For processors, there is a registration fee of $1,000 for each registered address operated by the processor and an application fee of $100.00 for each address operated by the processor.
Those applying for a license or registration will also be subject to a background check. Both licenses and registrations last for a maximum of 3 calendar years from the date of issuance. Licensees must also file certain reports to the Illinois Department of Agriculture and may be subject to inspection and sampling.
For further information or for help with the application process, please contact us today.