Indiana Hemp Regulatory Website

On December 20, 2018, the President of the United States signed the 2019 Farm Bill, which authorizes states to implement a hemp (= industrial hemp) program under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including removal of hemp from the definition of marijuana - a Schedule I drug. This change will allow commercialization of hemp as a legitimate agricultural crop separate from marijuana. Marijuana is still illegal to grow in Indiana.

On March 26, 2014, Governor Mike Pence signed the "Industrial Hemp" bill into law, IC 15-15-13, authorizing the Office of Indiana State Chemist & Seed Commissioner to obtain the necessary permits and authorizations for and production and regulation of industrial hemp in Indiana.

USDA approves Indiana Hemp Plan - Press Release (pdf, 120kb) - 10/22/20

Section 1: Authorities in Law

Emergency Rule LSA Document #22-281 - effective 9-15-22 (pdf, 201kb)
Indiana Hemp Law 15-15-13 (pdf, 82kb)
IC 15-11-15 Indiana Hemp Advisory Committee (ISDA) (pdf, 101kb)

Indiana's USDA Approved Plan Documents:

Indiana Hemp Plan (pdf, 1.4MB)
USDA Interim Final Rule Establishing the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program (source: USDA)
NOTE: Interim rule became effective October 31, 2019.
Federal Hemp Language taken from the United States Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (also called the 2018 Farm Bill) (pdf, 226kb)

Section 2: Frequently Asked Questions and Indiana Hemp Websites:

USDA Begins Offering Crop Insurance for Hemp for 2020 (pdf, 180kb) (source: Politico.com)
Follow us on Twitter - Seed (Indiana StateChemSeed - @IndianaChemist)
Purdue Hemp Website

Section 3: Applications for Grower/Handler of Hemp with University Researcher/Research Advisors

OISC will license hemp growers and handlers under IC 15-15-13 and Hemp Emergency Rules.

The Hemp Licensing and Crop Management Software is ready for renewals and new licenses!

If you had a 2022 Indiana Hemp License, you are already a registered user - please refer to the e-mail that was sent to that 2022 registered e-mail address to renew.

DO NOT APPLY for a renewal until the 2022 License Required Actions have all been taken care of and your year is finalized in all areas!

For new users, please follow the link below to register an account and start the licensing process:

Hemp Licensing and Crop Management Software: https://hemp.oisc.purdue.edu

NOTE: All growers or handlers must pass an FBI background check to be licensed to grow or handle, process, transport or test hemp. This background check must be completed within 60 days of your application per USDA rules. It is suggested that you do this electronically, as wait times for mailed background check forms is 2-4 weeks.

FBI Background Check Information: https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks

HELPFUL VIDEOS:

Indiana Hemp - How to Register and Set up your Account (source: OISC via YouTube)
Indiana Hemp - How to Apply for a License (source: OISC via YouTube)
Indiana Hemp - How to Report your Crop Planting, FSA Field Number and Share Sites (source: OISC via YouTube)
Indiana Hemp - How to Get Digital Fingerprints for Hemp License (source: Indiana Hemp via YouTube)

Grower/Handler Documents:

Ten Questions to Ask Before Growing Hemp - Bolt (pdf, 128kb)

Section 4: Federal (USDA, FDA, EPA) Comments, Hemp Guidance, and Policy Announcements:

FDA Hearing Comments (July 25, 2019):

USDA Testimony - Greg Ibach, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (pdf, 117kb)
FDA Testimony - Dr. Amy Abernethy, Principal Deputy Commissioner, FDA (pdf, 174kb)
EPA Testimony - Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, Asst. Administrator, EPA (pdf, 91kb)
Tribal Perspective Testimony - Honorable Darrell G. Seki, Sr., Tribal Chairman - Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians (pdf, 582kb)
Hemp Farmer Testimony - Brian Furnish (pdf, 80kb)
National Hemp Association Testimony - Erica Stark, Executive Director (pdf, 146kb)

USDA Comments:

USDA Office of the General Counsel "Executive Summary of New Hemp Authorities" (05/28/19; pdf, 1.82MB)
USDA AMS "Legal Opinion on Authorities for Hemp Production" (source: USDA)
USDA AMS "USDA Clarifies Industrial Hemp Production for Indian Tribes" (source: USDA) - 05/28/19

FDA Comments:

From FDA regarding Cannabidiol (source: fda.gov) - 11/25/19
FDA release on use of Cannabis products - (source: morningagclips) - 12/23/18
Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on signing of the Agriculture Improvement Act and the agency's regulation of products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds (source: fda.gov) - 12/20/18
FDA comments on CBD in Foods (and Feeds) (pdf, 254kb) - 08/29/16

DEA Comments:

DEA Interim Final Rule (source: US Department of Justice, Diversion Control Division) - 10/22/20
DEA-Clinical trials on CBD research (use links in document for full details) (pdf, 196kb) - 08/12/16
DEA and Cannabis retains current law (see links in document for full details) (pdf, 31kb) - 12/23/15

FTC Comments:

FTC Comments on CBD Health claims - (source: FTC.gov) - 09/10/19

Miscellaneous:

Economic Viability of Industrial Hemp in the United States: A Review of State Pilot Programs (pdf, 1.9MB) - 02/2020
AAFCO Guidelines on Hemp in Animal Food (pdf, 356kb) - 05/01/19
Defining Hemp: A Fact Sheet (source: Congressional Research Service) - 03/19
State Industrial Hemp Statutes - (source: National Conference of State Legislatures-NCSL) - 02/01/19
Combined Federal Agency Statement of Principle re: Industrial Hemp (pdf, 35kb) - 08/11/16
2014 U.S. Farm Bill Provisions for Industrial Hemp - Section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill: "Legitimacy of Industrial Hemp Research" (pdf, 743kb) - 01/27/14

Section 5: Research Links for Hemp

Marguerite Bolt, who recently received her master’s degree in entomology from Purdue and also has a background in horticulture and beekeeping, has been appointed as Purdue Extension’s first hemp production specialist. For more information about hemp, visit: Purdue Hemp Website.
Get the Facts: DrugWarFacts.org
Hemp: A New Crop with New Uses for North America
University Research Presentation from Cornell/University of Kentucky

Section 6: Seed & Seed Labeling of Hemp

Seed Supplier List as Required by IC 15-15-13 (pdf, 183kb) - 05/04/22
Average Hemp Total THC By Variety - this is not a recommendation, but is a listing of results only (pdf, 192kb) - 01/20/22
How to Test and Label Hemp Seed - by Scottie Brittsan, Office of Indiana State Chemist (pdf, 707kb)
Seed and Seed Labeling of Hemp in Indiana
Hemp seed is now an agricultural commodity crop and thus is now subject to the Indiana State Seed Law IC 15-15-1 and Administrative Rules 360 IAC. A quick overview of this information is that hemp seed must be tested for purity, noxious weeds and germination and that the seed must be labeled properly. This means that the seed label must be affixed to each bag or container and that all required test results must be listed. Examples of that information are: Seed Kind (hemp), variety name or number, purity % by weight, inert % by weight, other crop seed % by weight, weed seed % by weight, noxious weed seeds found or the statement none found, if applicable. The company name and address of the labeler is also required. This is not an exhaustive list of seed labeling requirements. Contact seedlab@groups.purdue.edu with questions.
What is certified seed?
Certified Seed is a new term to many in the hemp world. This term is a specific one that verifies varietal purity and the quality of the seed. For seed to be Certified, the grower must go through the stringent growing standards and inspections from an Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) member. In Indiana that agency is Indiana Crop Improvement Association based in Lafayette. Part of the certifying process for seed is an isolation distance away from all other hemp grow sites, documentation and verification of the source of the seed to be reproduced, varietal purity of the seed to be reproduced, field inspections for verification of the varietal characteristics, cleanliness of the crop from a weed perspective and other documentation. For more information on how to produce Certified Seed, please contact Joe DeFord at Indiana Crop Improvement Association at deford@indianacrop.org or 765-523-2535.
What is a seed breeder?
Plant breeding is a defined science that requires generation after generation of back crossing to breed in certain traits and breed out certain traits. In many crops, back crossing for seven generations is required to create a new variety. Crossbreeding one time, or cross pollinating does not create a new variety. Nor does, selecting certain strains or off types. The vast majority of plant breeders in North America are PhD’s.
Conventional and GM Breeding Processes - Glenn (2017 - pdf, 1.02MB)
Guide to Seed Quality Management Practices - ASTA (2016 - pdf, 524kb)
How to Certify Hemp Seed - AOSCA (pdf, 206kb)

Section 7: EPA & Pesticide Use in Hemp

Legal Use of Pesticides in Hemp Production in Indiana- 04/26/22 (pdf, 470kb)
EPA Takes Steps to Provide Needed Clarity and Certainty for Agriculture (source: US EPA) - 12/19/19

Section 8: General Information:

Hemp Grower/Handler Contact Information (pdf, 96kb) - 04/07/22
NASDA Hemp Report-Constructing a New Industry: Navigating the Details (source: NASDA)