Hemp

The licensing and production of hemp will be coordinated between the Office of Cannabis Management and the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The Department of Agriculture and Markets will oversee hemp used exclusively for industrial and food purposes under its Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program.  The Office of Cannabis Management will regulate hemp used or marketed for its cannabinoid content, such as cannabidiol commonly known as "CBD".

For partners already in theIndustrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program, the current Research Partnership Agreement will apply until the new regulations are created and implemented.

• If interested parties plan to ONLY grow or process hemp for food or fiber purposes, they do not need to register with the Office and only need an industrial hemp grower or processor license from the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
• If interested parties are growing hemp for its cannabinoid content (such as CBD), they are required to register with the Office as a cannabinoid grower.
• If interested parties are extracting or processing hemp into a finished product for its cannabinoid content (such as CBD), they are required to register with the Office as a cannabinoid extractor.

Hemp is the same genus and species of plant as adult-use or medical cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.), that contains low levels of delta-9 tetra-hydrocannabinol (THC) the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant which makes users feel “high”. Hemp is a versatile crop with uses across a variety of sectors including food, building materials, textiles, beauty products, dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals.

CBD, or Cannabidiol, is one of the 150+ naturally occurring phytocannabinoids found in hemp and in all cannabis plant strains. CBD is being marketed for its general health and wellness properties in a wide array of products and delivery mechanisms. It is important for consumers to know where their CBD came from and it is safe to use.

The Office in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Markets is in the process of developing regulations and guidance governing the hemp industry in New York State. In the meantime, the current Research Partnership Agreement will apply until the new regulations are created and implemented.

Sample Partner Agreements:

Sample Grower Research Partner Agreement

Sample Processor Research Partner Agreement

Information on hemp licenses can be found here. 

Current Grower Information:

Download an authorized list of research partners

The 2014 U.S. Farm Bill legalized the growth of hemp for research by departments of agriculture or higher education institutions in states where it has been approved by law.  Governor Cuomo signed it into law in 2014 and officially launched the Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program in 2015, recognizing its potential impact on manufacturing, job creation, and the profitability of farms across New York State.

Since then, legislation first proposed by the Governor in his 2017 State of the State Address eliminated the cap on the number of sites authorized to grow and research industrial hemp in New York State.  The State held the State's first Industrial Hemp Summit and announced several actions to support the emerging industry in April 2017.

Following on the heels of the Industrial Hemp Summit, the Governor signed legislation to solidify the status of industrial hemp as an agricultural commodity under New York Agriculture and Markets Law and created a one-stop shop and webpage to help producers and processors better understand state and federal regulations and requirements.  The State also held an Industrial Hemp Research Forum, announced in the Governor's 2018 State of the State proposal, to establish New York as a national leader in industrial hemp research, production and processing and transform New York's agricultural economy.  It brought together researchers, academics, businesses and processors to develop strategies to advance research throughout the state.

The 2018 Farm Bill removed industrial hemp as a Schedule I controlled substance, legalizing its production in the U.S to be grown by state licensed programs.