ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 6, 2007

STATE ISSUES FIRST INDUSTRIAL HEMP LICENSE

BISMARCK – State Rep. David Monson of Osnabrock holds the first license issued by the state of North Dakota to grow industrial hemp.

“Rep. Monson has been the leader in developing the necessary legislation for North Dakota to legalize production of industrial hemp,” Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson said Monday. “It is fitting that he has the first license.”

Johnson presented licenses Monday, to Monson and to Wayne Hauge of Ray.

“These two North Dakota producers have met all the requirements, including FBI background checks,” Johnson said. “They have invested considerable time, money and effort to meet the letter and spirit of the law.”

Johnson said Monson’s and Hauge’s licenses will be forwarded to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“The rules require that a state license is not effective until the licensee receives a registration from DEA to import, produce or process industrial hemp,” Johnson said.

The DEA registration process includes an annual payment of a non-refundable $2,293 fee. Johnson had written the federal agency asking that the registration be waived, but said the request had been denied Friday.

“I will meet with DEA officials about this matter in Washington early next week,” said Johnson, who will be attending the annual midyear meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. “I will ask for DEA’s cooperation with our state program, and I will ask DEA to implement a reasonable process to allow North Dakota producers to grow industrial hemp.”

Johnson said he wants to have a decision from DEA on whether the agency will register farmers to grow industrial hemp, and if registration is forthcoming, what additional restrictions will be placed on growers.

“The controls placed on licensed industrial hemp farmers by North Dakota’s laws and regulations include criminal background checks, identification of fields by satellite tracking, minimum acreage requirements, seed certification and mandatory laboratory tests,” Johnson said. “The chain of custody for viable hemp seed must be fully documented.”

The regulations apply to owners, operators and employees of a hemp farm or anyone to grows, handles or processes viable hemp seed.

Johnson said the production of industrial hemp presents little potential for diversion of controlled substances to illegitimate purposes.

-30-

MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.