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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill deals with the licensing of cultivators and processors of industrial hemp and
10 the registration of industrial hemp products.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ defines terms;
14 ▸ authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Food to license a person who wishes
15 to participate in an industrial hemp research pilot program;
16 ▸ creates a process to register an industrial hemp product;
17 ▸ prohibits a person from cultivating industrial hemp without a license;
18 ▸ prohibits the distribution of an industrial hemp product without registration;
19 ▸ authorizes rulemaking authority; and
20 ▸ makes technical changes.
21 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22 None
23 Other Special Clauses:
24 None
25 Utah Code Sections Affected:
26 AMENDS:
27 4-41-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 25
28 4-41-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapter 345
29 ENACTS:
30 4-41-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
31 4-41-105, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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33 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34 Section 1. Section 4-41-102 is amended to read:
35 4-41-102. Definitions.
36 For purposes of this chapter:
37 (1) "Agricultural pilot program" means a program to study the growth, cultivation, or
38 marketing of industrial hemp.
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40 with a concentration of less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol by weight.
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42 higher education institution to grow or cultivate industrial hemp under Subsection 4-41-103(1).
43 (4) "Industrial hemp license" means a license issued by the department to a person for
44 the purpose of participating in a research pilot program.
45 (5) "Industrial hemp product" means a product derived from, or made by, processing
46 industrial hemp plants or industrial hemp parts.
47 (6) "Licensee" means an individual or business entity possessing a license issued by the
48 department under this chapter to grow, cultivate, process, or market industrial hemp or an
49 industrial hemp product.
50 (7) "Person" means:
51 (a) an individual, partnership, association, firm, trust, limited liability company, or
52 corporation; and
53 (b) an agent or employee of an individual, partnership, association, firm, trust, limited
54 liability company, or corporation.
55 (8) "Research pilot program" means a program conducted by the department in
56 collaboration with at least one licensee to study methods of cultivating, processing, or
57 marketing industrial hemp.
58 Section 2. Section 4-41-103 is amended to read:
59 4-41-103. Industrial hemp -- Agricultural and academic research.
60 (1) The department and its licensee may grow [
61 hemp for the purpose of agricultural [
62 (2) The department shall certify a higher education institution to grow or cultivate
63 industrial hemp for the purpose of agricultural or academic research if the higher education
64 institution submits to the department:
65 (a) the location where the higher education institution intends to grow or cultivate
66 industrial hemp;
67 (b) the higher education institution's research plan; and
68 (c) the name of an employee of the higher education institution who will supervise the
69 industrial hemp growth, cultivation, and research.
70 (3) The department shall maintain a list of each industrial hemp certificate holder and
71 licensee.
72 (4) The department shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
73 Administrative Rulemaking Act, to:
74 (a) ensure any industrial hemp project or research pilot project meets the standards of
75 an agricultural pilot project, as defined by Section 7606 of the United States Agricultural Act
76 of 2014[
77 (b) establish requirements for a license to participate in an industrial hemp research
78 pilot program;
79 (c) set sampling and testing procedures for industrial hemp; and
80 (d) define a class or category of an industrial hemp product that is eligible for sale,
81 transfer, or distribution to a member of the public.
82 (5) A person seeking to cultivate industrial hemp shall provide to the department:
83 (a) the legal description and global positioning coordinates sufficient for locating any
84 field or greenhouse used by the person to grow industrial hemp; and
85 (b) written consent allowing a representative of the department and local law
86 enforcement to enter all premises where industrial hemp is cultivated, processed, or stored for
87 the purpose of:
88 (i) conducting a physical inspection; or
89 (ii) ensuring compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
90 (6) The following individuals are not eligible to obtain a license under this chapter:
91 (a) an individual who has been convicted of a felony; and
92 (b) an individual who has been convicted of a drug-related misdemeanor within the last
93 10 years.
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95 application of an industrial hemp certificate and the application for an industrial hemp license.
96 Section 3. Section 4-41-104 is enacted to read:
97 4-41-104. Product registration required for distribution -- Application -- Fees --
98 Renewal.
99 (1) An industrial hemp product that is not registered with the department may not be
100 distributed in this state.
101 (2) A person seeking registration for an industrial hemp product shall:
102 (a) apply to the department on forms provided by the department; and
103 (b) submit an annual registration fee, determined by the department pursuant to
104 Subsection 4-2-103(2), for each industrial hemp product the person intends to distribute in this
105 state.
106 (3) The department may conduct tests, or require test results, to ensure that any claim
107 made by an applicant about an industrial hemp product is accurate.
108 (4) Upon receipt by the department of a proper application and payment of the
109 appropriate fee, as described in Subsection (2), the department shall issue a registration to the
110 applicant allowing the applicant to distribute the registered hemp product in the state through
111 June 30 of each year, subject to suspension or revocation for cause.
112 (5) The department shall mail, either through the postal service or electronically, forms
113 for the renewal of a registration to a registrant at least 30 days before the day on which the
114 registrant's registration expires.
115 Section 4. Section 4-41-105 is enacted to read:
116 4-41-105. Unlawful acts.
117 (1) It is unlawful for a person who is not a licensee to cultivate, handle, process, or
118 market living industrial hemp plants, viable hemp seeds, leaf materials, or floral materials
119 derived from industrial hemp.
120 (2) It is unlawful for any person to distribute or market an industrial hemp product that
121 is not registered with the department pursuant to Section 4-41-104.
122 (3) The department may seize and destroy hemp plants or products that do not comply
123 with this chapter, including cannabis plants or products that contain a concentration of 0.3%
124 tetrahydrocannabinol or greater by weight.
125 (4) Nothing in this chapter authorizes any person to violate federal law, regulation, or
126 any provision of this title.