470 acres of hemp were licensed and an estimated 94 acres were planted in 2020, up from 19 acres planted in 2019
On this page you will find Hawaii hemp law along with a history of how Hawaii hemp bills have progressed through the State capitol over the years. Hawaii has legalized hemp farming but chose not to regulate hemp production. Prospective growers must apply directly to USDA (see application below).
HAWAII (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii officially became part of the industrial hemp industry last month after issuing its first hemp...
2018
SB 1052
Legalizes hemp. Makes the temporary industrial hemp pilot program a permanent program. Expands the scope of the industrial hemp program to include commercial purposes. Excludes hemp from state criminal prohibitions against marijuana.
POSITION: Support
2017
SB 773
Amends the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program by establishing a special fund administered by the Department of Agriculture. Restricts cultivation of industrial hemp under the pilot project to agricultural lands and requires counties to recognize it as an agricultural product, use, or activity. Amends license application and physical facility requirements.
Establishes the Industrial Hemp Special Fund. Provides that agricultural land utilized to grow industrial hemp shall qualify for the minimum dedication period and be assessed at the lowest percentage of fair market value. Clarifies that the cultivation of industrial hemp shall be limited to licensed owners, lessees, or occupiers of agricultural lands.
Makes modifications to the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program, including allowing an application to grow industrial hemp to be submitted at any time during the year in which the applicant plans to grow industrial hemp.
2014
SB 2175
Authorizes the growing of industrial hemp for certain purposes under specified conditions. Introduced in the Senate and first reading on 1/16/2014. Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture/Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairsand Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection/Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor on 1/17/2014. Download the text of SB 2175 as Introduced here(PDF file 205k).
Status: SB 2175 was signed by the Governor on 4/30/2014.
Authorizes the Chair of the Board of Agriculture to establish an industrial hemp remediation pilot program. Appropriates funds. Introduced in the House on 1/18/2013. Carried over to the 2014 Regular Session on 12/18/2013.
Download the text of HB 154 as Introduced here (PDF file 115k).
2013
SB 695
Allows private funded industrial hemp research to be conducted under certain conditions; requires monitoring by the DPS; requires reporting to the respective county law enforcement; exempts agronomic data derived from research from public records disclosure; confers immunity from criminal prosecution for the research. Introduced in the Senate on 1/18/2013. Download the text of SB 695 as Introduced here (PDF file 74k).
Authorizes the Chair of the Board of Agriculture to establish an industrial hemp remediation pilot program. Appropriates funds. Introduced in the House on 1/18/2013. Download the text of HB 154 as Introduced here (PDF file 115k).
Encouraging Congress and the President to re-state that the Congressional intent of the federal Controlled Substances Act is not to prohibit the production of industrial hemp. To be offered in House on 1/18/2013. Download the text of HR 6 as Introduced here (PDF file 115k).
Encouraging Congress and the President to re-state that the Congressional intent of the federal Controlled Substances Act is not to prohibit the production of industrial hemp. To be offered in House on 1/18/2013. Download the text of HCR 3 as Introduced here (PDF file 115k).
2012
SB 2890
Allows privately funded industrial hemp research to be conducted in Hawaii under certain conditions; requires monitoring by department of public safety; requires reporting to county law enforcement; exempts agronomic data derived from research from public records disclosure; confers immunity from criminal prosecution for the research. Introduced and Passed First Reading 1/25/2012. Referred to EDT/PGM, JDL on 1/27/2012. The committee(s) on EDT/PGM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-14-12 2:50PM in conference room 224, click here to view the hearing notice. Download the text of SB 2890 as Introduced here (PDF file 72k).
Allows privately funded industrial hemp research to be conducted in Hawaii under certain conditions; requires monitoring by department of public safety; requires reporting to county law enforcement; exempts agronomic data derived from research from public records disclosure; confers immunity from criminal prosecution for the research. Prefiled on 1/13/2012. Introduced and Pass First Reading on 1/18/2012. Referred to HLT/PBM, JUD, FIN, referral sheet 2, on 1/19/2012.
Download the text of HB 1820 as Introduced here (PDF file 132k).
Allows privately funded industrial hemp research to be conducted in Hawaii under certain conditions; requires monitoring by department of public safety; requires reporting to county law enforcement; exempts argonomic data derived from research from public records disclosure; confers immunity from criminal prosecution for the research. Prefiled on 1/12/2012. Introduced and Pass First Reading on 1/18/2012. Referred to HLT/PBM, JUD, FIN, referral sheet 1, on 1/18/2012. Download the text of HB 1727 as Introduced here (PDF file 144k).
2009
HB 305
Provides the authority, procedures, and licensing, related to the production of industrial hemp in the State. Pending introduction on 1/23/09. Introduced and Pass First Reading on 1/26/09. Referred to Agriculture, Judiciary, and Finance committees on 1/26/09. Testimony for the Agriculture Committee may be emailed to them at this email address. The bill was heard by the Agriculture Committee on 2/6/09 and the committee recommends that the measure be deferred. Please click here to view the testimony presented to the House Agriculture Committee for the 2/6/09 hearing.
Download the text of HB 305 as Introduced here (PDF file 2.4MB).
2008
HB 1535
Legalizes and regulates the possession and production of, and commerce involving, industrial hemp. Introduced and Pass First Reading on 1/24/07. Referred to Agriculture, Judiciary, and Finance committees. Carried over from 2007 Regular Session. Download the text of HB 1535 as Introduced here (PDF file 348k).
2007
HB 1535
Legalizes and regulates the possession and production of, and commerce involving, industrial hemp. Introduced and Pass First Reading on 1/24/07. Referred to Agriculture, Judiciary, and Finance committees. Carried over to 2008 Regular Session.
Download the text of HB 1535 as Introduced here (PDF file 348k).
2002
HB 57
Download the text of HB 57 as Enrolled here (PDF file 4k).
Status: Passed into law.
2001
HB 57
Carried over to 2002 Regular Session. Download the text of HB 57 as Introduced here(PDF file 4k).
1999
HB 32
Passed into law.
Passed into law.
Passed into law.