Hemp Farming & Research
About the Maryland Hemp Program
The purpose of Maryland’s Hemp Program is to register industrial hemp growing sites and facilitate the research of industrial hemp in any aspect of growing, cultivating, harvesting, processing, manufacturing, transporting, marketing, or selling industrial hemp for agricultural, industrial, or commercial purposes.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s role with industrial hemp is limited to the registration of sites where industrial hemp is to be grown. It does not have jurisdiction over the processing, sale, or distribution of industrial hemp. The department does not have referrals or market information at this time.
Program updates
As of November 1, 2020, the Maryland Department of Agriculture adopted new regulations that expand the state’s industrial hemp program. The regulations bring the state’s program into compliance with provisions of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill and establish industrial hemp as an agricultural commodity.
Hemp program options
Maryland growers interested in growing hemp have the opportunity to participate in two programs:
Maryland Hemp Farming Program
This new program, beginning in 2021, is for those interested in growing hemp for commercial purposes. Apply online!
Maryland Hemp Research Pilot Program
Growers interested in partnering with an institute of higher education or the Maryland Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp under a research program, must fill out a PDF application and mail the completed application and supporting documents to the Maryland Department of Agriculture (50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401)
Getting started: How to grow industrial hemp in Maryland
The following information is provided as a guide for how to start growing industrial hemp in Maryland.
- Determine what type of hemp you want to grow and what fits your farm operation: grain, fiber, floral material for CBD extraction.
- If you are interested in participating in the Maryland Hemp Research Pilot Program, partner with an institute of higher education located in Maryland or the Maryland Department of Agriculture to develop a research project.
- Develop a plan for the use or destruction of the crop.
- Select a location where the industrial hemp will be grown. Outdoor production must be 1000 feet from a school or public recreation area.
- If the site is not owned by the applicant, you must have the landowner’s permission to grow industrial hemp on their property.
- Apply for a FBI Criminal Background Check.
- Applicants must not have a felony conviction in the past ten years.
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
- Apply to the Maryland Department of Agriculture for a site registration.
- Submit your criminal background check with your site registration application.
- Develop a plan to comply with Maryland Nutrient Management and Pesticide Regulations.
Frequently asked questions
The following information is provided as a guide and is not a legal interpretation of the Act.
Growing industrial hemp - FAQs
Industrial hemp is a versatile plant that has been used for thousands of years as a source of fiber and food. While grown commercially in the U.S. until after World War II, industrial hemp became regulated along with marijuana and its cultivation was prohibited.
Industrial hemp and marijuana are different varieties of the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa. Marijuana is cultivated because of its production of the psychoactive plant chemical delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC. Industrial hemp is cultivated for fiber, seed, and other purposes, and federal and state law requires that the concentration of THC must be less than 0.3% in industrial hemp.
To legally grow hemp in Maryland a grower must be enrolled in the Maryland Hemp Farming Program or the Maryland Hemp Research Pilot Program. The Maryland Hemp Farming Program is open to growers who want to produce and cultivate hemp for commercial purposes. The Maryland Hemp Research Pilot Program is available for growers interested in partnerning with an institute of higher education or the Maryland Department of Agriculture for research purposes.
Growers will need to apply to the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) to register the site where they plan to grow hemp. Those interested in the Maryland Hemp Research Pilot Program can apply by filling out a PDF application on the program’s website and mailing the completed application and supporting documents to MDA headquarters. To apply for the Maryland Hemp Farming Program, growers must complete an online application.
Yes, MDA will charge $550 per site for the Maryland Hemp Farming Program and $250 a site for the Maryland Hemp Research Pilot Program.
At this time there is no limit to the number of growers or acres that may be used in these programs.
The 2018 Farm Bill establishes hemp as an agricultural commodity. It also re-classifies hemp with regard to the Controlled Substances Act administered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This change now offers hemp growers access to financing and crop insurance and removes trade barriers across state lines. The 2018 Farm Bill also describes regulation of hemp production at the state level. The department of agriculture for any state interested in allowing the cultivation of hemp may submit their plan to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) once approval is obtained from the state’s legislature. The Maryland State Hemp Production Plan was approved by the USDA and took effect on November 1, 2020.
The department will not be involved or participate in any seed orders to be obtained from other states, including ordering, shipping, or approving such seed procurement. Seed sourced from another state shall be the sole responsibility of the person sourcing and/or procuring and shipping the seed and such person shall bear all legal liability and responsibility for such procurement and shipment.
Hemp and hemp products produced from hemp grown in Maryland may be sold as part of the Maryland Hemp Farming Program and the Maryland Hemp Research Pilot Program. All products or substances distributed or sold must meet all state and federal laws, and regulations that are applicable to the commodity.
By definition, the plants are no longer industrial hemp. The crop must be destroyed.
Research projects from the past several years have shown that good soil fertility, with adequate nitrogen, proper planting depth, and pre-plant weed control, is important for a good crop. Growers also need to evaluate available harvesting options because many combines are not designed for use with this crop, which is well known for its strong fiber and stalks.