Wyoming Governor’s Office and Department of Agriculture Provide Status Update On State’s Hemp Program

The office of Governor Mark Gordon and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture have released a detailed update on the current status of the state’s hemp program.

Background information, a detailed status update and a list of frequently asked questions about the program can be found through a link on the Governor’s website, https://governor.wyo.gov/

The update is in response to a high level of statewide interest in the program, which was authorized by the legislature with the passage of House Bill 171 during the 2019 session. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (also known as the 2018 Farm Bill) removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, authorizing a federal hemp program and allowing for state-delegated authority. The state is currently waiting for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue regulations and review Wyoming’s state plan, which was completed in April.

“Wyoming is doing everything we can to launch the hemp industry,” Governor Gordon said. “We have investigated every opportunity to move this industry forward in the state within our present statutory framework. Last week, during a horseback ride with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, I encouraged him to get agency rules in place as soon as possible, and that our farmers were depending on them.”

Wyoming Department of Agriculture Director Doug Miyamoto added, “The Wyoming Department of Agriculture will be ready to implement a hemp program in Wyoming upon approval of our State Plan by USDA. We are installing testing equipment in our Analytical Services Laboratory right now. We will request emergency rulemaking authority as soon as our plan is approved. This would allow immediate implementation of our program while we concurrently take public comment on our rules.”