With the rise of legal cannabis and the expansion of the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry, the hort-tech businesses model has changed dramatically. When cannabis was still illegal and indoor gardening just a fringe hobby, hydroponic equipment companies primarily made products for home growers. Yet, today things look quite different.

As of late 2021, the legal cannabis and hemp business have become multi-billion dollar industries. In fact, studies show that the “U.S. cannabis industry is worth $61 billion” in 2021. 

For its part, the much smaller, yet important vertical farming industry was valued at $3.24 billion in 2020.” Nonetheless, research shows that it will likely grow to over $24 billion within the next decade. 

With a rapid shift in how the indoor gardening industry operates, new jobs such as direct-to-grower sales and grower support are popping up. 

The Direct-to-Grower Sales Model 

Due to such rapid growth in commercial production with both cannabis and food crops, horticultural equipment manufacturers have begun selling their supplies direct-to-growers. In doing so, they have cut out the traditional retail hydro garden shop model. As direct-to-grower sales jobs continue to get more popular, sales teams refine these processes for efficiency and effectiveness.

Generally speaking, direct-to-grower salespeople manage a territory such as the Midwestern U.S. In doing so, they conduct complex sales processes where value propositions are largely related to how a specific piece of technology can help a CEA grower produce larger yields. Whether it be with cannabis cultivators or vertical farms, these sales processes involve a partnership between producers and equipment manufacturers. 

Whether it be $1 million worth of grow lights or a commercial fertigation system, equipment manufacturers go to great lengths to incentivize their clients. Part of this process is including grower support people for installing, onboarding, and using specific types of cultivation technology. 

Sales Support Jobs in Hydroponics and Horticulture

Grower support people work with both sales support and customer service. 

Looking at direct-to-grower sales processes, salespeople incentivize customers with in-house horticulturists, engineers, and scientists as part of the whole package of equipment they are selling. 

To illustrate, a horticultural lighting manufacturer would offer guidance on lighting design for their customer’s specific warehouse or greenhouse. After the design is put together, grower support people will guide the client on installing the lights, as well as operating them and servicing them in the future.

Grower support duties go far beyond the average tech support you might expect on something like a computer or new software. In fact, grower support people that work for companies like fertigation manufacturers give actual hands-on guidance for using the equipment to maximize production. As such, they actually work with clients to help them achieve production goals that translate directly into financial performance. 

Grower support jobs are a relatively new phenomenon in the horticulture and hydroponics industries. Yet, they offer an intriguing new career path for plant scientists, horticulturists, CEA specialists, and technical salespeople. 

Required Technical Skills for Grower Support Jobs 

To be successful in a grower support job, you must be proficient in the plant sciences, as well as be familiar with CEA technology. Oftentimes, grower support people have degrees in fields such as botany, horticulture, and agronomy.

Common technical skills needed by grower support professionals include:

• Indoor garden design
• Basic engineering
• Greenhouse design
• PAR lighting knowledge
• Irrigation systems
• Organic chemistry 
• Airflow principles

Beyond technical skills, grower support jobs also require customer service experience. If you are interested in pursuing this career path, you should be comfortable giving customers detailed directions in-person as well as over the phone. 

What Types of Companies Hire for Grower Support Jobs?   

Most horticultural equipment and garden supply companies doing direct-to-grower sales have some sort of grower support teams. Common businesses who would hire grower support professionals include: 

• Atmospheric controllers
• Horticultural lighting
• Greenhouse engineers
• HVAC systems
• Cultivation substrates
• Greenhouse design & build
• Fertigation systems
• Commercial water filtration & treatment 
• Hydroponic nutrients 

If a cultivation technology company only manufacturers equipment for home-based growers, it’s likely they won’t need a grower support team. 

Conclusion 

As leading recruiters in the hydroponics space, Mac and Fulton Talent Partners has seen first-hand the evolutions of the industry. To this end, we regularly work with leading hydroponic equipment manufacturers on difficult-to-fill sales jobs.

As the horticulture and cannabis industries evolve, it’s likely we will see a continued shift towards the direct-to-grower sales model and away from retail sales. That being said, if you have a strong background in horticulture or CEA technology, the recruiting team at M&F Talent would love to work with you. 

Talk to M&F Talent About Grower Support Jobs 

At Mac and Fulton Talent Partners, we take great pride in being experts in the horticultural technology space. We have a dedicated team of recruiters that work in this challenging, yet exciting vertical. 

Please contact info@mandfconsultants.com to learn more.

Since hemp was federally legalized with the 2018 Farm Bill, the industry has seen its fair share of advancements – as well as setbacks. As the hemp job market continues to mature, businesses and candidates alike are learning what it takes to make it in this new industry. 

2021 has been an interesting year for job searchers. The end of COVID-19 shutdowns led to an unprecedented few months in the job market. During this time, cannabis dispensaries, cultivation operations, and manufacturing labs have had a difficult time locating and hiring top talent.

When the COVID-19 pandemic first struck in early 2020, the new national hemp industry was only a year old. As such, it interrupted nearly every facet of a new market that is still an extremely long way from taking shape. Not only did many farmers have to abandon plans to plant their hemp, crops but the global supply chain saw unrivaled interruptions. 

While 2021 has undoubtedly been a candidate-driven job market, the hemp industry has experienced hiring patterns all its own. 

The United States Hemp Industry

In the few short years since hemp was nationally legalized, the industry has changed exponentially. Today, hemp fields are planted across the United States – including within the conservative regions of the Midwest and South. While not always extremely stable, these new hemp farms have created a number of jobs. 

A number of ancillary markets have arisen to service the new national hemp industry. Whether it be industrial agriculture equipment, or cannabinoid extraction technology, there seems to be no limit with ancillary expansion. The ancillary market has also been a major job creator in the hemp space. 

CBD Hemp vs Industrial Hemp 

One of the most fascinating things about hemp is the diverse products that can be made out of it. In turn, hemp’s many applications also lead to the development of new product markets and subsequent job creation. Nonetheless, all types of hemp products are made from either CBD hemp or industrial hemp. 

CBD hemp and industrial hemp are two distinct market segments in the hemp industry. 

CBD hemp is grown for its cannabinoid-rich flowers, which are then processed into the many CBD products we see on the market today. As such, the entire CBD industry is built around hemp plants that produce high amounts of CBD, yet low amounts of THC. In fact, the 2018 Farm Bill classifies any cannabis sativa plant with less than 0.3% THC as legal hemp. 

Industrial hemp is grown for its fibrous stalks, as opposed to flowers. The fibers taken from industrial hemp stalks are manufactured into a plethora of different materials, including textiles, building materials, fuel, and more. 

The current hemp job market spans both the CBD hemp and industrial hemp industries. 

What Types of Hemp Jobs are People Hiring For?

Because the hemp plant can be utilized in so many different ways, the hemp job market is also vast and diverse. While the hemp industry has undergone some setbacks and advancements with COVID-19, there are some notable hiring trends. For example, certain skill-sets remain in higher demand than others in the hemp industry. 

Hemp Sales Jobs 

No matter the industry, good salespeople are always a commodity. This notion also rings true in the hemp industry. 

There are a wide variety of sales jobs in the hemp space, these are conducted in both B2B and B2C capacities. For example, B2B sales in the hemp industry are undertaken between farming

equipment manufacturers and hemp farmers. In this example, an outside salesperson conducts direct-to-grower sales with capital equipment. An example of B2C sales in the hemp industry would be selling CBD products directly to customers in retail stores.

Hemp Operations Jobs 

Whether it be CBD hemp or industrial hemp, operations people are valuable in all aspects of the hemp industry. Because the hemp industry is brand new, many companies have not yet developed critical organizational processes like standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Perhaps the place that people can make the biggest splash in the hemp industry with operations skills is with vertically integrated companies. Because these operations have so many moving parts between cultivation, processing, marketing, and sales, even the smallest organizational issues can turn into big problems. 

People with logistics training like Lean Six Sigma can be a huge asset for hemp companies. 

Hemp Cultivation Director Jobs

Commercial hemp farms are very unique operations. Namely because, they marry methods taken from cannabis horticulture with processes from industrial agriculture. As such, Hemp Cultivation Director positions require diverse skill-sets that few candidates possess. 

Hemp Cultivation Directors must ensure that their farms are turning a profit. This requires not only careful controls on garden inputs like water, fertilizer, and human labor but also a strategic awareness of environmental conditions in their given location. These individuals can direct their team to plant according to a strict schedule and harvest while the weather is still good. 

What Kind of Salary Can I Expect in the Hemp Industry?

If you are interested in what types of salaries are available in the current hemp job market, please have a look at the below figures:

• Farm Director: $150,000
• Director of Cultivation: $100,000
• Operations Manager: $75,000 
• Greenhouse Technician: $60,000 
• Outside Sales Person: $50,000 base (plus commissions) 

While the above figures are estimates, they should give you a good idea of what to expect for salaries in the hemp industry. 

Advice for Finding a Hemp Career

The hemp industry is a very exciting business to work in. Nonetheless, the novelty and volatility of the CBD market can make some hemp jobs unstable. All things considered, the process of finding a career in the hemp industry should be accomplished with careful erudition and critical thought. 

Key tips for your hemp job search: 

• Utilize your established skill-sets and transfer them into the hemp industry. For example, if you have a background selling construction materials, the industrial hemp space is likely a good fit.
• Write a resume specifically for the hemp industry. In this resume, be sure to mention transferable skill-sets that are applicable in the hemp business. For example, experience with health and wellness products is a great segway in the CBD space. 
• Post your hemp resume on job boards like Indeed, Monster, and Glassdoor. 
• Work with a recruiter like those found at M&F Talent. A recruiting partner will help you better market yourself in this increasingly competitive job market. 
• Thoroughly research and vet any hemp company that you are interested in working for. Because a vast majority of hemp businesses are still in the startup phase, they might not be able to provide a very stable job. 

Contact M&F Talent with Questions About Hemp Job Trends

As leading hemp recruiters, Mac & Fulton Talent Partners has seen many evolving hemp job trends over the years. Whether it be the COVID-19 pandemic or saturation of the CBD market, the current hemp job market will always experience fluctuations.

Please contact info@mandfconsultants.com with questions about hemp jobs or our recruiting services. 

At M&F Talent, we are wishing health and safety for our network during these difficult times. While many people have had their careers disrupted, or perhaps are working from home, it’s important to stay positive and keep motivated. While business has slowed a bit, our recruiting team is still working hard to find people jobs. That being said, now is a great time to assess COVID-19, cannabis, and horticulture jobs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our personal and business lives in ways unthinkable just a few short months ago. Over the last weeks, the pandemic has made it all-to-clear that we simply cannot control mother nature. Even more, it is easy to feel helpless with such turmoil happening in the business world. However, while it’s evident that we can’t control the forces that “got us here,” we can still influence our lives through positive action.

As you spend time at home to await the passage of this crisis, it’s a great time to brainstorm ways to improve your career standing when things return to normal. For starters, you could finally take the time to revise your resume up to today’s standards. Similarly, cleaning up your LinkedIn profile or getting professional headshots are great ways to prep for a future career change. Finally, you take the time to research that dream job or industry that you have always thought about. In the end, the COVID-19 pandemic gives us the chance to better ourselves by affording us extra time at home. Why not spend this time being productive?

If you put some extra effort into improving your situation, you will be ready to enter the next chapter of your life when the world gets back to normal. For those looking to work in cannabis or controlled environment agriculture (CEA), perhaps there will be better opportunity than seen before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Market Resiliency, COVID-19, Cannabis, and Horticulture

The cannabis and horticulture industries are well-positioned to weather the COVID-19 storm. This notion applies to the business climate during market shutdowns as well as a potential recession. To this end, as long as people consume cannabis and fresh produce, businesses that provide these products should fare better than most – this notion includes plant-touching companies and ancillaries. Therefore, the cannabis and horticulture markets currently offer more career stability than seen in most other industries. Here are a few reasons why:

Essential Businesses

As of early May, 24 U.S. States have deemed cannabis businesses “essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, within markets such as California and Colorado, cannabis industry workers remain employed while many others not. Beyond job security, this notion is exciting because it reflects the changing view of cannabis in the public eye. As such, many people feel that the “essential business” classification for cannabis companies is a harbinger for things to come for federal legalization.

Cannabis as a Stress Reliever

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many of us concerned about the prospect of another recession as seen in 2008, or worse. However, it is worth noting that industries similar to cannabis in fact do well during economic recessions. To illustrate, the wine and beer industry remained healthy during the entire 2008 recession – namely because people look to alcohol as a stress reliever. Needless to say, cannabis has a similar relaxing effect for many consumers, and it is used for stress relief during difficult times. Even more, many people now prefer cannabis to alcohol as a healthier stress relief option.

Everyone Needs to Eat

Looking to the horticulture / CEA industry, you have to appreciate the fact that everyone needs to eat food. Therefore, this basic fact is an indicator of the present and future health of modern crop production. Even more, the COVID 19 pandemic has exposed some serious flaws in the global food supply chain that can only be rectified through more localized production. As such, during pandemic or recession, the CEA space is a good place to be professionally.

The Cannabis Industry “Darwin Effect”

It’s no secret that the cannabis industry had a difficult time over the last 6 months. For starters, news in Q4 of 2019 highlighted employee layoffs, business downsizing, the exit of high-powered CEOs. Secondly, 2020 continued this trend of downsizing with the added complexity of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, it’s worth noting that this market activity is indicative of an industry beginning to mature. Even more, as the current economy forces cannabis businesses to operate “lean and mean,” it will help to eliminate those companies not fit to survive in the long run. In the end, this “Darwin effect” will help create a more stable job market in the future.

Summary

It can’t be denied that COVID-19, cannabis, and horticulture are exposing some very interesting trends in the current business climate. While many other industries like tourism and hospitality are experiencing some real challenges with the pandemic, it seems that cannabis and horticulture are well placed to weather the storm. Even more, it’s entirely possible for these markets to come out stronger than they were prior to the pandemic.

If you would like to learn more about M&F Talent, as well as our business operations, please contact us at info@mandfconsultants.com.

Looking back at 2019, perhaps no segment of the cannabis industry experienced the sort of growth as seen with the U.S. hemp market. To this end, national legalization led to a boom in new hemp companies, including cultivation, processing, and medical products. Within this flux of new growth, thousands of new hemp jobs were created overnight. Yet, as many interested applicants have found, hemp job searching presents unique challenges in itself.

As the nation’s seminal outdoor hemp cultivation season came to a close with fall 2019, many hemp businesses were left facing some harsh realities. Unfortunately for many of them, lack of experience and poor planning led to dismal harvests and massive financial losses. These sad scenarios also put people’s hemp industry jobs at risk.

For those applicants interested in finding employment in this industry, M&F Talent put together a few key hemp job search tips. These parameters should be employed in vetting potential hemp industry employers for both stability and longevity. Ideally, they can also help you avoid many of the pitfalls faced by people currently working in the hemp space.

Hemp Job Turnover Rates

Turnover rates are a great indicator of job stability with a hemp company. To this end, if you find out that a business has employed 3 people for the same role in the past year, it could be a red flag. Because, high turnover rates are usually a symptom of larger problems such as disorganization and mismanagement.

Business Funding

When discussing a potential job with a hemp company, it’s not rude to ask how the business is being funded. For example, large hemp companies who have received public funding have been thoroughly vetted for longevity. As such, they often afford a more stable work environment than seen with small businesses. In the end, its always a good idea to ensure your potential employer can afford your salary.

Hemp Job Organization

As the hemp industry is entirely comprised of startup businesses, a lack of internal organization is one of the largest factors hindering success. To this end, it’s a good idea to discuss things like Standard Operating Procedures and Employee Handbooks with your potential employer. If these sorts of measures have been implemented, there is a good chance this business can provide a stable workplace.

Compliance

As the national hemp business continues to fall under more scrutiny from the FDA and USDA, all serious hemp companies must populate their business plans with strict compliance initiatives. These include both following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and employing cannabinoid testing protocols. In the end, asking a potential employer about their compliance protocols is a great way to test their longevity.

Summary

The national hemp industry offers a plethora of opportunities for both business owners and hemp professionals. However, the volatility of the hemp market makes for a very difficult environment in finding stable work. Therefore, keep these hemp job search tips at the front of your mind as you research this exciting new industry.

With the recent passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, entrepreneurs and hopeful job searchers alike are flocking to the hemp industry in hopes of finding success. To say there is excitement over the federal legalization of hemp is an understatement. 

Since hemp is such a versatile plant, the industry is sure to offer a wide variety of engaging career opportunities. Between industrial hemp and CBD, hemp employers offer diverse careers involving anything from building materials to pet medicines. 

Before you dive in and start your new hemp industry job search, M&F Talent wanted to give you an inside glimpse into what it’s like to work for hemp employers. 

What is the 2018 Farm Bill?

The latest rendition of the Farm Bill was signed into law on December 20, 2018. The standout feature of the 2018 Farm Bill was the federal legalization of hemp. Interestingly, the new legislation uses THC levels to differentiate between “hemp” and “marijuana.”

With the 2018 Farm Bill, any cannabis sativa plant that contains less than 0.3% THC is considered hemp by the federal government.  The legalization of hemp opened up a myriad of opportunities for growers, entrepreneurs, and scientists, as it allows for the cultivation, processing, and sale of hemp-derived products like CBD, textiles, building materials, and food items. 

What Types of Hemp Employers are Out There?

Hemp employers are those companies that grow or manufacture hemp-related products. There are also hemp ancillary companies that service growers and producers in a business-to-business (B2B) capacity. Hemp products fall into two categories: hemp-derived CBD products and industrial hemp materials. 

Hemp Growers

With hemp now legal in all 50 states, farmers around the nation are scrambling to get plants in the ground this growing season. While many hemp growers are planting large fields in a fashion that matches traditional agriculture, others are utilizing greenhouses for controlled environment agriculture. 

Farm Equipment Manufacturers

While growers are working hard to get hemp planted in 2019, equipment manufacturers are developing different technologies needed to manage these crops on a commercial scale. Not only do growers need industrial hemp farming technology, but they also need the equipment to harvest and process raw plant material – whether it be fiber for textiles or CBD for consumable products.

CBD Product Companies

The hemp-derived CBD industry has exploded in popularity with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. Whether it be topical creams or consumable gummies, there are near endless varieties of CBD products on the market today. Nearly every week, the hemp industry sees newsflashes about new massive CBD business ventures, featuring names the likes of Kroger and Martha Stewart. 

Hempseed Oil Product Companies

Hemp seed oil is a versatile product derived from the seeds of the hemp plant. It’s rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, making it ideal for skin care, cooking, and industrial applications like biofuels and lubricants. Due to its known health benefits, the hemp industry is seeing an influx of new companies getting into the hempseed oil vertical. 

Hemp Textile & Building Supply Operations

Hemp textiles are durable and eco-friendly, offering breathability and strength. Used in clothing, bags, and upholstery, they’re a sustainable alternative to traditional fabrics. Hemp-based building supplies like hempcrete are not only extremely strong and energy efficient, they are a much more sustainable method for building than traditional lumber or stone. 

Why is the Hemp Industry a Good Place to Work?

As compared to similar career paths in the cannabis industry, the legal standing of hemp gives this industry some serious potential job growth. The same can be said about the versatility of the hemp plant, as we are just scratching the surface of its many diverse applications. 

Since hemp companies don’t face the same level of compliance scrutiny as cannabis businesses, they can operate openly across state lines and national borders. Because major television personalities like Sanjay Gupta are getting behind CBD, these products have been rapidly adopted by mainstream America. Even conservative areas of the United States are embracing hemp as a new cash crop and are planting fields by the acre. 

What are the Challenges of Working for Hemp Employers?

In the short time since the 2018 Farm Bill became law, it is amazing to see the transitions that the hemp market has undergone. While the excitement surrounding hemp is palpable, legalization has brought with it a tidal wave of startup companies. 

As seen with many new businesses, most hemp startups lack direction, structure, and focus – some even struggle to pay their employees. If you plan on working in the hemp industry, it’s advisable to do some due diligence on potential employers before accepting a job. 

The hemp industry is still waiting on formal guidance from the FDA on how to test, manufacture, and label CBD products. As such, CBD companies are still operating in a bit of a grey area without real federal oversight. 

Interested in Finding a Hemp Job? Contact M&F Talent

Since hemp is such a versatile plant, it offers almost countless career opportunities. In turn, M&F Talent is thrilled to partake in the hemp industry during these extremely exciting times. 

Contact us today to find work with hemp employers!  

Happy holidays from the recruitment team at Mac & Fulton Talent Partners! 2018 has been an amazing year for us. We are extremely thankful for the cannabis network that has made this success possible. Looking into 2019 and beyond, M&F Talent is thrilled to continue our place as the most attentive and knowledgeable recruiting service in cannabis, hydroponics, and horticulture. Similarly, we are excited to share our knowledge and experiences with our vast network of industry connections.

Understanding the 2018 Farm Bill and the Hemp Industry

Representing perhaps the most monumental change in the history of legal cannabis in the United States, hemp was federally legalized on December 20, 2018. On this historic date, President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law. This watershed legislation has opened the doors to a plethora of business and employment opportunities involving hemp. However, their remains a great deal of controversy and confusion regarding the place of hemp-based CBD products in the newly created national hemp industry.

Hemp-Based CBD products and the 2014 Farm Bill

The hemp-based CBD product business has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Most of this industry growth is related to to legal loopholes found within the 2014 USDA Farm Bill. To this end, the industrial hemp section of the 2014 Farm Bill allows for “an institution of higher education or state department of agriculture” to legally cultivate and research hemp in non-profit, scholarly scenarios. It does not, however, grant hemp business the ability to legally sell CBD products across the United States.

The market growth seen within the hemp-based CBD industry up until late 2018 is due to a grey area created by the 2014 Farm Bill. As such, what exactly has been considered “legal” and “illegal” is largely conjecture on the part of sellers, buyers, and law-makers within certain State markets.

With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp can be legally grown in all 50 States, yet, the legal standing of the hemp-based CBD products is still largely undefined. At this point, the FDA has made statements that CBD medicines and food products must undergo the same rigorous testing standards as all food and drug products sold in the United States today. They have also stated that any companies selling CBD products without such testing standards are doing so illegally

The Future of CBD Products in the U.S. Hemp Industry

Looking to the future, many advocates and business owners alike hope the 2018 Farm Bill represents a harbinger of things to come for a national cannabis industry. For the time being, however, it seems that the hemp industry still has a long way to go in establishing legitimate business practices. Similarly, the FDA and other federal agencies must work with hemp companies in understanding exactly what products are legal under this new regime.

Careers in the Hemp Industry

M&F Talent is excited to witness this historic moment for the U.S. hemp industry. To this end, we have developed business connections relating to commercial hemp cultivation, harvest equipment design, CBD extraction technology, and more. As seen with cannabis recruiting practices, our hemp recruiting will also focus on technical career paths. In early to mid 2019, expect to see a flurry of hemp jobs being posted by M&F Talent. Please keep an eye on our website and newsletter for updates on career opportunities in the hemp industry.

Clarifying a Complex Legal Landscape for the Hemp Industry

The hemp industry in the United States is evolving rapidly, but one of the most perplexing aspects of this growth has been the legal status of hemp-based CBD. As top recruiters in the cannabis and hemp industries, Mac & Fulton Talent Partners is committed to staying informed on the latest regulatory developments and industry trends.

Hemp-based CBD products occupy a unique legal space that often confuses both consumers and businesses. While the 2018 Farm Bill made significant strides in the legalization of industrial hemp, the varying interpretations at state and federal levels leave many businesses unsure about compliance.

Industry Thought Leadership: Understanding Hemp-Based CBD

To provide our clients with the most up-to-date knowledge, the recruiters at Mac & Fulton Talent Partners make it a priority to stay on top of legal developments in the hemp and cannabis sectors. We believe in sharing this knowledge as thought leaders in the space, ensuring that our clients can make informed decisions about their business strategies.

In the rapidly changing regulatory environment, understanding the legal framework around hemp-based CBD is critical for businesses aiming to thrive in this market. From federal regulations to state-by-state variations, the legal complexities of hemp-based CBD can have a significant impact on your business operations and compliance efforts. Staying informed on these issues will ensure you’re better prepared for the future of the industry.

The 2014 Farm Bill

The US hemp-based CBD product market finds its roots in a legal loophole taken from the 2014 US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Bill. In this bill, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and DEA advised the USDA on a pilot program aimed at cultivating hemp for research purposes. Essentially, the industrial hemp section of the Farm Bill allows for “an institution of higher education or state department of agriculture” to legally cultivate and research hemp in non-profit, scholarly scenarios. So, the 2014 Farm Bill does isolate hemp cultivators and processors from federal prosecution. However, it only offers these protections in specific research and development scenarios. Moreover, by no means does the Farm Bill grant businesses the ability to sell hemp-based CBD products across the U.S.

The Indiana CBD Market in 2018

Throughout 2018, the State of Indiana came to personify the confusing nature of hemp-based CBD legality reflective of the Farm Bill’s misinterpretation. In March 2018, Governor Eric Holcomb signed a law that states, “all CBD products are legal as long as they come from hemp and contain low amounts of THC” and that all CBD products must have a QR code on their labels that is linked to production information. In other words, the traditionally conservative state where no legal marijuana or hemp initiatives even exist looked past federal regulation in the Farm Bill and beyond to allow the sale of hemp-based CBD. Yet, with this seemingly “progressive” legislation, new laws led to stricter regulations and the removal of hemp-based CBD products from store shelves. Moving forward, the changing law even left Indiana State District Attorney Curtis Hill and Governor Holcomb at odds concerning the legal status of hemp-based CBD products.

What is Hemp?

Hemp’s material applications doubtlessly make it one of the world’s most versatile plants. Nonetheless, few people know that certain varietals produce CBD. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identifies industrial hemp as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part or derivative of such plant, including seeds of such plant, whether growing or not, that is used exclusively for industrial purposes (fiber and seed) with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.” The point is, that hemp plants don’t produce enough THC to be considered psychoactive. However, they can produce ample CBD to be utilized medicinally. Therefore, federal and state legislation has attempted to draw a strict line between the legal status of cannabis and hemp. Yet, the presence of CBD in hemp makes a clear distinction between the two plant species next to impossible.

Is Hemp Based CBD Legal?

The sale of hemp-based CBD products is still illegal according to federal law. Those American-based companies who claim they can sell their products nationwide are misleading their customers. In an interview with Forbes Magazine in late 2017, DEA son Rusty Payne stated, in reference to CBD, “It’s not legal. It’s just not.” This quote still rings true in late 2018.

However, Payne continued, this time referring to parents treating sick children with CBD, “I cannot blame these people for what they’re doing … Are they breaking the law? Yes, they are. Are we going to break (a parent’s) door down? Absolutely not.” It’s reassuring that the federal government isn’t out to prosecute families who treat their sick children with hemp-based CBD. However, the back and forth concerning the substance’s legal standing adds to the overall confusion of the situation.

Perhaps hearing the DEA’s lenient standings on the matter, the FDA finally moved on CBD in late June 2018 by approving the drug Epidiolex. This represents the first-ever non-synthesized cannabis drug approved for on a national scale for use in the United States. Obviously, the approval of Epidiolex starkly contradicts the Schedule 1 Drug standing of cannabis. It does this by sanctifying the use of a plant-based compound in CBD. Many hope this movement is a harbinger of things to come concerning hemp-based CBD legalization efforts.

The 2018 Farm Bill and the Future of Hemp in the U.S.

As 2018 comes to a close, the national hemp industry has its eyes turned on the 2018 Farm Bill. In this unprecedented legislation, known as the “Hemp Farming Act of 2018,” proponents are pushing to federally legalize the entire hemp industry. This legislation includes hemp-based CBD products. With Democrats now controlling Congress after the November midterm elections, many feel the 2018 Farm Bill could see some serious traction. Yet, as with anything else in this industry, nothing is certain.

The hemp-based CBD market presents perhaps the strongest case for federal cannabis legalization to date. Conclusively, in an ever-changing landscape of regulation and legalization, it is almost impossible to understand the legal status of a product like hemp-based CBD. Unfortunately, medical patients are the ones who have the real cause for concern. This concern has primarily to do with consistent access to dependable hemp-based CBD medicines. Moving forward, consumers should be sure that hemp-based CBD comes from a licensed producer. Ideally, this practice will safeguard against impure products. In the meantime, many hopes rest in such legislation as the 2018 Farm Bill.

Looking for Top Talent in the Hemp Industry? 

As the legal landscape around hemp-based CBD continues to evolve, businesses in the cannabis and hemp industries need expert guidance to navigate these complex regulations. At M&F Talent, we specialize in providing recruitment services for the cannabis and horticulture industries, helping businesses stay ahead of industry trends and regulatory changes. 

Whether you’re looking for legal expertise, compliance officers, or other key roles, we can connect you with top-tier talent who understands the intricacies of this evolving market. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business thrive in this dynamic industry!