“I’ve heard people compare it to dog breeds,” Tewalt added. “The Great Danes and chihuahuas are of the same species, but they’re quite different in terms of what they really are.”
The state’s main duty as the regulator of hemp, according to HB 1523, will be to test production lots and ensure that THC levels comply with the legal threshold. In addition, law enforcement officials can continue testing and taking samples from a vehicle transporting hemp in order to determine its THC content.
“Every single crop that is produced will be sampled, and our sample size is decided by the size of the lot, the acreage. The hemp can’t go anywhere since it belongs to them. They can’t receive an acceptable lab result until their hemp has been tested.”
For a good result, the detection level must be 0.3% or less. If the lot tests above that threshold, the crop must be destroyed or mixed with a different strain to reduce the THC concentration.
Tewalt said that the state has received 60 applications thus far, with eight having been fully authorized — four handlers, three producers, and one handler/producer.
Want to find out more on your own?
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture’s website has information on the laws and regulations surrounding industrial hemp, as well as the information needed to apply for a license. Even seasoned hemp producers in other states should review Idaho’s rules and contact with questions, according to Deputy Director Chanel Tewalt.
“Never assume, always ask,” Tewalt said.