Earlier this week, it was announced that Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a new bill that aims to regulate the burgeoning New York hemp industry. The bill was spearheaded by Senator Jen Metzger (D-Rosendale) who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Binghampton), who chairs the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

The bill seeks to establish New York State as a leader in the hemp industry in the wake of 2018’s federal Farm Bill, which, among other things, freed up the nation’s farmers to legally grow and harvest hemp and its byproducts, including cannabidiol (CBD).

With the new bill, the state will begin to create a regulatory framework for the production, processing and sale of hemp extract products in the state, protecting both the consumers and producers of these products. Hemp products will now be subject to more thorough production and testing standards and will require detailed labels. The hope is that these regulations will help to demystify and normalize the hemp industry for those unfamiliar, while providing a better product for those who already support it, therefore allowing for New York State, and the Hudson Valley specifically, to become an industry leader nationwide.

The bill also mandates that hemp used to create extracts or for research purposes must be derived from authorized New York State industrial hemp producers. Licensing fees will be based on the number of acres grown, in addition to a non-refundable $500 application fee. Applicants also must “furnish evidence of his or her good character, experience and competency,” and prove that their farm has adequate facilities and equipment to process the product.

“Today, New York has taken a nation-leading step forward to create the framework for growing, processing, and selling hemp extract and related products in our state, providing a tremendous opportunity for our farmers and businesses up the value chain while ensuring that we have the standards needed to protect consumer safety and well-being,” said Senator Metzger of the bill’s passage.

While many people in recent years have come to associate hemp with the CBD movement, the pain-relieving extract is only one of the uses for the hemp plant. Hemp is a very tough and fibrous material, making it great for use in clothing, paper products, bio-plastics, and even building materials like insulation and “hempcrete,” a mix of hemp shiv (the woody interior of the stalk) and lime-based material. With its growth and use now made legal nationwide, the number of uses for this high-value, hardy plant may continue to increase.

“We applaud the NY state hemp legislation sponsored by Senator Metzger and Assemblywoman Lupardo. This bill will establish New York State as a role model for the rest of the Hemp/CBD industry in this country and establish guidelines necessary to ensure the safe use of hemp derived CBD,” said High Falls Hemp co-founders Tricia Horst and Rick Weissman. “It is a great day for the hemp industry.”