A bill making hemp a legal, regulated crop in Indiana has passed out of both chambers of the legislature and is headed to the governor’s desk.
Hemp had been considered a controlled substance under federal drug laws due to its relation to marijuana. That changed when Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill, which redefined the plant as an agricultural commodity.
Senate Bill 516 sets up the state’s regulatory structure for hemp, including a hemp advisory committee that will report to the Indiana state chemist and seed commissioner for a period of about two years.
No word on if the Governor plans to sign the bill.
