4,690 acres of hemp were grown in Minnesota in 2020, up from 710 in 2019
On this page you will find Minnesota hemp law along with a history of how Minnesota hemp bills have progressed through the State capitol over the years. We also provide links to important information concerning Minnesota hemp programs and state agency advisories or opinion letters.
(KMSP) – As the 2018 Farm Bill makes its way through Congress, some Minnesota farmers are eyeing a...
2015
HF 1437
Description: Omnibus agriculture policy and finance bill featuring a hemp amendment providing framework for the state’s Department of Agriculture to develop a pilot program allowing participation from the state’s higher-education academic institutions as well as public and private growers. Passed the House 5/4/2015.
SF 618
“Industrial Hemp Development Act”
Sponsor: Senator Kent Eken
Description: providing for the development and regulation of an industrial hemp industry; defining certain terms; providing for industrial hemp as an agricultural product; requiring licensing; specifying production and notification requirements; requiring rulemaking by the commissioner of commerce; providing for fees; providing an affirmative defense for possession of marijuana; exempting industrial hemp from the marijuana and wild hemp definitions.
Status: Hearing scheduled for Wed. Feb. 18th at 2 pm in the Committee on Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development.
TAKE ACTION: URGENT, please send a letter of support to your Senator today! Our action alert is quick and easy with a pre-written note that you can edit.
HF 683
Sponsor: Representative Franson
Description: Industrial hemp industry development provided for and regulated, industrial hemp research authorized, rulemaking required, possession of industrial hemp defense provided, Marijuana and Wild Hemp definitions modified, and money appropriated.
2014
HF 2315
Industrial hemp research authorized in accordance with federal law. Introduced, first reading and referred to on 2/25/2014. Download the text of HF 2315 as introduced here(PDF file 78k). Amended and re-referred to House Ways & Means Committee 3/24/2014. HF 3172, 149.30, The Ag commissioner shall examine how other states are implementing industrial hemp research programs and gauge interest of Minnestora higher education institutions, and must submit report by 1/15/2015.
2013
HF 230
Industrial hemp industry development and regulation, and possession and cultivation of industrial hemp defense provided for; rulemaking authorized; and marijuana definition modified. Download the text of HF 230 as introduced here (PDF file 115k) Introduced, first reading and referred to Agriculture Policy Committee on 1/31/2013.
Senate companion bill to HF 230. “Industrial Hemp Development Act”; providing for the development and regulation of an industrial hemp industry; defining certain terms; providing for industrial hemp as an agricultural product; requiring licensing; specifying production and notification requirements; requiring rulemaking by the commissioner of commerce; providing for fees; providing an affirmative defense for possession of marijuana; exempting industrial hemp from the marijuana and wild hemp definitions. Download the text of SF 1153 as introduced here (PDF file 115k)Introduced, first reading and referred to Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development on 3/7/2013.
Industrial hemp industry development provided for, rulemaking authorized, defense provided for possession and cultivation of industrial hemp, and marijuana definition modified. Download the text of HF 736 as introduced here (PDF file 115k). Introduced, first reading and referred to Agriculture Policy Committee on 2/20/2013.
Senate companion bill to HF 736. “Industrial Hemp Development Act”; providing for state economy and agricultural industry promotion of industrial hemp by permitting regulated industrial hemp industry development; authorizing industrial hemp as an agricultural product; placing enforcement under commissioner of agriculture; authorizing regulated and lawful industrial hemp agriculture and commercial sales; requiring licensure for cultivation; specifying licensee requirements, compliance and notification requirements; requiring commissioner to promulgate certain rules; requiring fee credit to the industrial hemp account and establishing the account in the agricultural fund; establishing an affirmative defense for possession of marijuana; exempting industrial hemp from the marijuana and wild hemp definitions. Download the text of SF 1590 as introduced here(PDF file 115k). Introduced, first reading and referred to Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development on 4/11/2013.
2011
HF 759
Hemp industry development and regulation provided, rulemaking authorized, defense for possession and cultivation of industrial hemp provided, and definition of marijuana modified. Introduced, first reading and referred to Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance on 2/28/2011.
Download the text of HF 759 as introduced here (PDF file 900k)
SF 826
“Industrial Hemp Development Act”; providing for state economy and agricultural industry promotion of industrial hemp by permitting regulated industrial hemp industry development; authorizing industrial hemp as an agricultural product; placing enforcement under commissioner of agriculture; authorizing regulated and lawful industrial hemp agriculture and commercial sales; requiring licensure for cultivation; specifying licensee requirements, compliance and notification requirements; requiring commissioner to promulgate certain rules; requiring fee credit to the industrial hemp account and establishing the account in the agricultural fund; establishing an affirmative defense for possession of marijuana; exempting industrial hemp from the marijuana and wild hemp definitions. Introduced, first reading and referred to Agriculture and Rural Economies on 3/16/2011.
Download the text of SF 826 as introduced here (PDF file 180k)
2010
HF 2678
Agriculture and veteran affairs provisions and programs changed, development and use of industrialized hemp authorized and regulated, terms and procedures clarified, record keeping provisions changed, planning for additional veteran cemeteries required, and money appropriated. Introduced, first reading and referred to Finance Committee on 2/4/10. Senate companion bill is SF 2737. Senate bill passed and substituted for HF 2678 on 4/26/10.
Download the text of HF 2678, as introduced, here (PDF file 48k)
Download the text of HF 2678, 1st Engrossment, here (PDF file 5.7MB)
Download the text of HF 2678, 2nd Engrossment, here (PDF file 5.7MB)
Download the text of HF 2678, 1st Committee Engrossment, here (PDF file 5.2MB)
SF 2737
Omnibus agriculture and veterans policy bill. (Includes authorization for an Industrial Hemp Report.) Introduced, first reading and referred to Finance Committee on 2/22/10. As this was an omnibus bill, extensive amendments were made. Passed by the House, passed by the Senate (click here for details). Signed by the Governor on 5/13/10. Secretary of State, Chapter 333 on 5/13/10.
Download the text of SF 2737, as introduced, here (PDF file 64k)
Download the text of SF 2737, 1st Engrossment, here (PDF file 388k)
Download the text of SF 2737, 2nd Engrossment, here (PDF file 740k)
Download the text of SF 2737, Conference Committee Report, here (PDF file 644k)
Download the text of SF 2737 as Session Law: Chapter 333, here (PDF file 648k)
Industrial hemp text in Session Law 2010, Chapter 333, pp 23:
Sec. 37. INDUSTRIAL HEMP REPORT.
The commissioner of agriculture shall identify and analyze industrial hemp laws and procedures in Canada or one or more of the other 30 nations where industrial hemp is grown as an agricultural crop. In particular, the commissioner shall report on how law enforcement and other authorities differentiate between industrial hemp and marijuana growing in the field. No later than February 15, 2011, the commissioner shall present a report on this topic to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture policy and finance and provide a copy to the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association, and the Minnesota County Attorneys Association.
Download the text of the 2010 Industrial Hemp Report here (PDF file 708k)
2009
HF 0608
Industrial hemp industry development and regulation provided, possession and cultivation of industrial hemp defense provided, and marijuana definition modified. Introduced, first reading and referred to Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Committee on 2/9/09. Committee report, to pass as amended and re-refer to Public Safety Policy and Oversight on 3/26/09. Senate companion bill is SF 1365.
Download the text of HF 0608, as introduced, here (PDF file 904k)
Download the text of HF 0608, 1st Engrossment, here (PDF file 936k)
Download the text of SF 1365, as introduced, here (PDF file 172k)
2008
HF 2168
Introduced on 3/19/07. First reading and referred to Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs committee. Carried over from 2007. Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs committee report, to pass as amended and re-refer to Public Safety and Civil Justice committee on 2/25/08. Public Safety and Civil Justice committee report, to pass as amended and re-refer to Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee on 3/6/08. The companion bill in the Senate is SF 3537. In committee on adjournment on 5/18/08; thus died in committee.
Download the text of SF 3395 as introduced here (PDF file 908k)
Download the text of SF 3395, 1st Engrossment here (PDF file 932k).
HF 3902
Introduced on 3/10/08. An agriculture committee omnibus bill that includes a section on Industrial Hemp Development And Regulation. HF indefinitely postponed. See Senate file in House. The companion bill in the Senate is SF 3683. Introduced on 3/10/08. Hemp language from HF 3902 added to SF 3683 in conference committee, please see 1st Unofficial Engrossment below, then removed at the insistence of the State Patrol and the Governor’s Washington, DC lobbyist. SF 3683 was signed by Governor Pawlenty on 3/12/08, but without any hemp language.
Download the text of HF 3902, 1st Engrossment here (PDF file 6.2MB).
Download the text of SF 3683, 1st Unofficial Engrossment (PDF file 1.1MB).
2007
HF 2168
Introduced on 3/19/07. First reading and referred to Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs committee. Carried over to 2008.
Download the text of SF 3395 here (PDF file 908k).
2002
SF 3395
Died in committee.
Download the text of SF 3395 here (PDF file 20k).
HF 3569
Died in committee.
Download the text of HF 3569 here (PDF file 23k).
1999
SF 122
Passed in the Senate.
Download the text of SF 122 here (PDF file 20k).
HF 64
Died in House committee.
Download the text of HF 64 here (PDF file 23k).
HF 1238
Died in House committee.
Download the text of HF 1238 here (PDF file 24k).