The State of Oregon has decided to stop issuing hemp licenses, at least for the near future. The Oregon Department of Agriculture issued a decision this week to temporarily suspend the issuance of new licenses. The Department felt that there was just too much potential for changes in upcoming legislative sessions to be able to confidently issue licenses, which last three years. Per Oregon Live:
Oregon Department of Agriculture officials said Tuesday their decision does not impact those currently licensed to grow hemp in the state. The decision is effective immediately and comes at the end of the current growing season.
Officials hope to resolve the problems in time for next year’s growing season, said Lindsay Eng, who oversees Oregon’s hemp program.
“We just didn’t feel it was prudent to continue issuing new three-year licenses when so much might change,” she said.
There were a lot of concerns this year in the marijuana growing community about the potential for cross pollination from hemp, especially in Southern Oregon where outdoor cultivation is very popular. The Department said their decision had nothing to do with lobbying efforts from the marijuana community. I hope that someday soon there will be some type of deal struck because I think that hemp, in addition to marijuana, can be a very viable crop for Oregon’s farmers, which definitely need all the help they can get these days.
