Source: NCSU COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, 1/5/22

 As of January 1, 2022 all hemp growers in North Carolina must be licensed through the USDA National Hemp Program. The North Carolina Industrial Hemp Pilot Program, which was overseen by the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services under the direction of NC Industrial Hemp Commission ended on December 31, 2021. If you have a NC Industrial Hemp Commission issued hemp growers license, it is no longer valid, even if it was not due to expire yet.

You should not have any hemp growing, in the field, greenhouse, or grow-room, at this time unless you have a USDA hemp production license. You may still have hemp in your possession that you grew in 2021 or earlier under your NC issued license. That is fine, although I suggest you keep a copy of your 2021 NC hemp growers license on hand in case there is any question about it. But if you had hemp growing in the greenhouse or grow-room in December 2021 and it is still growing there now, you should have a USDA hemp production license.

Many NC hemp growers who applied to the USDA hemp program last year after they learned that the NC program was ending, received their licenses this week.

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