KAILUA-KONA — Two Hawaii Island growers were among the first to be licensed by the state Department of Health’s Industrial Hemp Pilot Program.
During June, licenses were awarded to Hawaii Island residents Gail Baber and Thomas Pace to grow hemp on 10 acres. Also receiving a license was Raymond Maki of Kauai for 10 acres.
Each license is valid for two years, as long as the licensee complies with the program rules, including submission of annual fees of $250, plus a $2 per acre assessment.
The time from planting to harvest is estimated to be anywhere from three to six months, according to the state.
“Hawaii’s first licensed hemp growers will help to demonstrate the real potential of the industrial hemp industry,” said Gov. David Ige. “We look forward to the entrepreneurial spirit that will help to invigorate and strengthen agriculture across the state.”
Growers will be required to submit extensive reports on planting, harvesting and movement of their industrial hemp crop. In addition, the research nature of the pilot program requires that licensees track items such as production costs including pest management, water usage, security measures, labor, marketing and other cost factors. Routine sampling, testing (for THC and pesticides) and inspections of crops will also be mandatory during this program.
“With this new agricultural crop, the program aims to monitor and assess the best methods of cultivation in Hawaii’s growing conditions,” said Scott Enright, chairperson of the state Board of Agriculture. “The program will also follow the crop from seed to the development, manufacturing and marketing of hemp products.”
A total of 10 applications have been received by the department’s Quality Assurance Branch since the program began in April. The state will continue to process applications and issue licenses to qualified applicants on a quarterly basis.
In July 2016, Ige signed Act 228 and in July 2017 signed Act 199 (amendment), which established the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. The department then established the rules for the program which were approved by the state Board of Agriculture in September 2017.
Industrial hemp and marijuana are both members of the same plant species, Cannabis sativa L. However, industrial hemp refers to cannabis plants with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration at or below 0.3 percent, which is about 33 percent lower than the least potent marijuana. Although industrial hemp and marijuana may look the same, it is not possible to get a chemical high from industrial hemp.
There are about 38 states that allow or are proposing to allow industrial hemp cultivation.