Hawai‘i House Passes Bill Legalizing Industrial Hemp

A field of hemp in France. Wikimedia image.

The Hawai‘i House of Representatives on Friday passed a bill legalizing the growing, processing, and sale of industrial hemp in Hawai‘i.

It passed the Senate on Wednesday unanimously, with Senators Les Ihara, Clarence K. Nishihara, and Laura H. Thielen expressing reservations. The legislation now goes to Governor David Ige to sign into law.

“This commercial hemp program will help grow a new industry in our state, which is especially needed now due to the impacts of COVID-19,” said Sen. Mike Gabbard. “This bill will provide an opportunity for economic development and the diversification of our economy. Hemp is an incredible plant that produces over 25,000 products and we’re very close to making the Hawaiian Hemp brand a reality, not only in the US but globally as well.”

The bill, HB1819 HD2 SD3, was championed by Senators Gabbard, Donovan Dela Cruz, Rosalyn H. Baker, Karl Rhoads, and Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, along with Representatives Mark M. Nakashima, Sylvia J. Luke, Nadine K. Nakamura, Kyle T. Yamashita, Richard P. Creagan, Chris Lee, and House Speaker Scott K. Saiki. 

Another hemp bill, Senate Bill 1353, was vetoed by Governor Ige last year after he expressed concerns that it was unenforceable. This year’s version was worked on directly with the Governor’s administration to ensure its enactment, a state press release said. 

“Instead of using state funds to set up a hemp agency, this bill was amended to save half-a-million dollars by allowing local hemp farmers to apply directly to the USDA to get their licenses,” Gabbard said.

An older version of the bill would have appropriated $522,000 for five positions for the state-run hemp program and data tracking/administrative costs.

The bill was also amended to change the size of buffer zones after committees received testimony about the impacts buffer zones would have on existing hemp farmers, and concerns related to noise, smells, and excessive lighting from neighbors of an existing hemp farm in Kula.

“We balanced these concerns by exempting the 50 Hawai‘i hemp farmers who have licenses under the existing pilot program, and instituted 500-foot buffer zones for any new hemp farms around residences, playgrounds, childcare facilities, and schools,” Gabbard said.