Industrial Hemp in the United States: Definition and History

Hemp is Cannabis sativa with delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol that does not exceed 0.3% Hemp is a regulated agricultural commodity at state and federal level. Hemp in Florida is regulated by the FL Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industries: Hemp Cultivation Licensing.

Have a hemp farm plan?

Hemp is predicted to have a high risk of invasion in natural areas according to the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas and may be problematic as an agricultural weed. FDACS requires an Environmental Containment and Transportation Plan with licensing application, pre-harvest sampling, and notice of harvest.

 

UF/IFAS is working to identify varieties and planting recommendations that can be profitable for growers and environmentally responsible, with variety trials to find marketable hemp that grows well in Florida‹s diverse soils, climates, latitudes. Economic research is being conducted to find the input costs and expected market value. Additionally, we are conducting a study for risk of invasiveness.

UF/IFAS Web Resources

• UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project
• FAQs
• Resources

Tropical Research and Education Center(TREC) was established in 1929 by an act of the state legislature in what is now Miami-Dade County. Due to the region's humid subtropical climate, TREC is the only state university research center in the continental U.S. focusing on a large number of tropical and subtropical crops. Also, the area's oolitic limestone soil is unique to extreme southern Florida. In addition, the Center addresses water and environmental issues that impact crop production over a shallow aquifer and in proximity to Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Marine Park, Florida Bay and major well fields which provide drinking water to the several million people in neighboring urban areas.