Hemp in Montana May Take a Hit with Latest Funding Bill

Before Montana had legalized medical and recreational marijuana, the state allowed farmers to grow a derivative of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as hemp.  The Montana Legislature passed a law in 2001 making industrial hemp an "agricultural crop" for farmers to grow.

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The law, in part, states that "residents may grow or process hemp in any approved location within the state, provided they have a state-issued hemp license."  Those Montana farms that chose to grow hemp since 2001 may now be in jeopardy with the new government funding bill passed earlier this week in Washington, DC.

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Hemp in Montana May Take a Hit with Latest Funding Bill

As part of the new government funding law, a provision was included that changes the definition of industrial hemp.  The changes are aimed at limiting the amount of THC in the plant.  According to Snopes, the original 2018 law for industrial hemp would be allowed "provided that the plants had a low concentration of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC."

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The new law now will "restrict industrial hemp to plants containing low concentrations of all THC, not just delta-9 THC".  That also means according to Snopes that:

it will likely make industrial hemp-derived cannabis products, including delta-8 and delta-10 THC as well as synthetic THC products like edibles, drinks, oils and vapes, incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to sell legally

Affects Won't Be Felt Immediately, But Montana Farmers Could Be

The new law doesn't take effect until November 12, 2026, one year from the date of the signing to reopen the government.  But in my opinion, it won't that long to see a change.  Farmers will begin to either adjust to the new 0.4 milligram threshold for THC immediately or maybe decide to forgo another year and switch crop type all together.

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To add to the pile, many of our local businesses that have either opened because of hemp or providing CBD products derived from it, aren't going to last.  And those businesses that carry a selection will also see effects of lower sales in the till.

I mean, even my local golf courses carry CBD cremes.  Many farm and ranch stores stock it and there are many independent local stores selling just hemp products.  My hope is that there may be some wiggle room in our own Montana Legislature to help farmers just trying to make a living in Big Sky Country with industrial hemp.