Kentucky Hemp Law

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Update

5,000 acres of hemp were grown in Kentucky in 2020, down from 26,500 acres in 2019

On this page you will find Kentucky hemp law along with a history of how Kentucky hemp bills have progressed through the State capitol over the years.  We also provide links to important information concerning Kentucky hemp programs and state agency advisories or opinion letters.


Kentucky Hemp Resources

Kentucky Department of Agriculture hemp program overview

Kentucky Department of Agriculture hemp applications

Recent News

Ready to switch to hemp? Farmers plan to grow fewest burley tobacco acres on record

Kentucky farmers plan to grow the lowest amount of burley tobacco on record this year, according to a new...

Kentucky growers cashing in on hemp byproduct as crop makes huge comeback in state

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) –Hemp is making a huge comeback in Kentucky. Federal and state legislation passed in 2014 says...

Kentucky Hemp Legislation

2014
SB 208

AN ACT relating to industrial hemp. Amend KRS 260.857 to remove the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Speaker’s designee, the President of the Senate or the President’s designee, the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and the chair of the House Agriculture and Small Business Committee from the Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission.
Introduced in Senate 3/6/2014.

2013
SB 50

AN ACT relating to industrial hemp. Create new sections of KRS Chapter 260 to define “Commissioner,” “department,” “grower,” “industrial hemp,” and “tetrahydrocannabinol”; establish conditions and procedures for the licensing of industrial hemp growers by the Department of Agriculture; require the department to coordinate a criminal history check with the assistance of law enforcement agencies; establish a license duration period; require the department to set the cost of the license by administrative regulation; require the department to forward a copy of an industrial hemp grower license to law enforcement agencies; specify stipulations for growers having an industrial hemp grower license; clarify that the Act does not authorize a person to violate federal law; require periodic reports to the Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission; establish circumstances under which a license may be withdrawn; amend KRS 218A.010 to conform; amend KRS 260.853 to clarify the scope of industrial hemp research; amend KRS 260.857 to allow for additional members of the Industrial Hemp Commission and designate the commissioner as the commission chair; amend KRS 260.859 to conform.

Introduced in Senate on 1/11/2013.
STATUS: SB 50 was allowed to become law on 4/5/2013 by Governor Beshear by not signing or vetoing the bill.

HB 33

AN ACT relating to industrial hemp and making an appropriation therefor. Create new sections of KRS Chapter 260 to define “department,” “industrial hemp,” and “THC”; require persons wanting to grow or process industrial hemp to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture; require criminal history checks by local sheriff; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the new sections; require the sheriff to monitor and randomly test industrial hemp fields; assess a fee of $5 per acre for every acre of industrial hemp grown, with a minimum fee of $150, to be divided equally between the department and the appropriate sheriff’s department; require licensees to provide the department with names and addresses of any grower or buyer of industrial hemp, and copies of any contracts the licensee may have entered into relating to the industrial hemp; clarify that the Act does not authorize any person to violate federal law; require Kentucky to adopt any federal rules or regulations relating to industrial hemp; amend KRS 218A.010 to conform. 

2012
HB 286

AN ACT relating to industrial hemp. Create new sections of KRS Chapter 260 to define “department,” “industrial hemp,” and “THC”; require persons wanting to grow or process industrial hemp to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture; require criminal history checks by local sheriff; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the new sections; require the sheriff to monitor and randomly test industrial hemp fields; assess a fee of five dollars per acre for every acre of industrial hemp grown, with a minimum fee of 150 dollars, to be divided equally between the department and the appropriate sheriff’s department; require licensees to provide the department with names and addresses of any grower or buyer of industrial hemp, and copies of any contracts the licensee may have entered into relating to the industrial hemp; clarify that the Act does not authorize any person to violate federal law; require Kentucky to adopt any federal rules or regulations relating to industrial hemp; amend KRS 218A.010 to conform; amend KRS 260.857 to make the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture the chair of the commission; amend KRS 260.859 to conform.

HB 272

AN ACT relating to industrial hemp. Create new sections of KRS Chapter 260 to define “department,” “industrial hemp,” and “THC”; require persons wanting to grow or process industrial hemp to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture; require criminal history checks by local sheriff; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the new sections; require the sheriff to monitor and randomly test industrial hemp fields; assess a fee of five dollars per acre for every acre of industrial hemp grown, with a minimum fee of $150 dollars, to be divided equally between the department and the appropriate sheriff’s department; require licensees to provide the department with names and addresses of any grower or buyer of industrial hemp, and copies of any contracts the licensee may have entered into relating to the industrial hemp; clarify that the Act does not authorize any person to violate federal law; require Kentucky to adopt any federal rules or regulations relating to industrial hemp; amend KRS 218A.010 to conform.

SB 41

AN ACT relating to industrial hemp. Create new sections of KRS Chapter 260 to define “department,” “industrial hemp,” and “THC”; require persons wanting to grow or process industrial hemp to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture; require criminal history checks by local sheriff; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the new sections; require the sheriff to monitor and randomly test industrial hemp fields; assess a fee of five dollars per acre for every acre of industrial hemp grown, with a minimum fee of 150 dollars, to be divided equally between the department and the appropriate sheriff’s department; require licensees to provide the department with names and addresses of any grower or buyer of industrial hemp, and copies of any contracts the licensee may have entered into relating to the industrial hemp; clarify that the Act does not authorize any person to violate federal law; require Kentucky to adopt any federal rules or regulations relating to industrial hemp; amend KRS 218A.010 to conform.

SR 51

A resolution to Adjourn in loving memory and honor of Louis Gatewood Galbraith. Introduced on 1/6/2012. Adopted by voice vote on 1/11/2012.

2011
SB 30

AN ACT relating to industrial hemp. Create new sections of KRS Chapter 260 to define “department”, “industrial hemp”, and “THC”; require persons wanting to grow or process industrial hemp to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture; require criminal history checks by local sheriff; require the Department of Agriculture to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the provisions of the Act; require sheriff to monitor and randomly test industrial hemp fields; assess a fee of $5 per acre for every acre of industrial hemp grown, with a minimum fee of $150, to be divided equally between the Department of Agriculture and the appropriate sheriff’s department; require licensees to provide the Department of Agriculture with names and addresses of any grower or buyer of industrial hemp, and copies of any contracts the licensee may have entered into relating to the industrial hemp; clarify that the Act does not authorize any person to violate federal law; require Kentucky to adopt any federal rules or regulations relating to industrial hemp.

2010
SB 14

AN ACT relating to industrial hemp. Create new sections of KRS Chapter 260 to define “department,” “industrial hemp,” and “THC”; require persons wanting to grow or process industrial hemp to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture; require criminal history checks by local sheriff; require the Department of Agriculture to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the provisions of the Act; require sheriff to monitor and randomly test industrial hemp fields; assess a fee of $5 per acre for every acre of industrial hemp grown, with a minimum fee of $150, to be divided equally between the Department of Agriculture and the appropriate sheriff’s department; require licensees to provide the Department of Agriculture with names and addresses of any grower or buyer of industrial hemp and copies of any contracts the licensee may have entered into relating to the industrial hemp; clarify that the Act does not authorize any person to violate federal law.

2009
SB 131

AN ACT relating to industrial hemp. Create new sections of KRS Chapter 260 to define “department,” “industrial hemp,” and “THC”; require persons wanting to grow or process industrial hemp to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture; require criminal history checks by local sheriff; require the Department of Agriculture to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the provisions of the Act; require sheriff to monitor and randomly test industrial hemp fields; assess a fee of $5 per acre for every acre of industrial hemp grown, with a minimum fee of $150, to be divided equally between the Department of Agriculture and the appropriate sheriff’s department; require licensees to provide the Department of Agriculture with names and addresses of any grower or buyer of industrial hemp and copies of any contracts the licensee may have entered into relating to the industrial hemp; clarify that the Act does not authorize any person to violate federal law.

2001
HB 100

Passed into law and signed by Gov. Patton.

2000
HB 855

Legislative session ended with no action.

HJR 121

Died in Senate.