Maine producers struggle with conflicting regulations

The USDA agreed to extend Maine's fledgling hemp program beyond the end of October, but the state's agricultural experts have no idea how the sector should advance. Hemp producers across Maine must adhere to new state guidelines, which, as horticultural expert Gary Fish points out, are spelled differently from current state regulations. Fish said this could be problematic for those harvesting after October 31, the original sunset date for the industry. Under a new federal rule, the THC level of a cannabis strain could determine whether it remains legal. Fish said everyone in the industry is going to have quite a learning experience. "And if there are situations where the crops are not necessarily fully compliant, we will try to find ways to mitigate those crops so that they can continue to be used and not destroyed," he told the Maine Public Radio. The broadcaster reported that cannabidiol and other terpenes for the CBD market are unlikely to meet USDA guidelines when November begins. It could take up to a year for the state's Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry to set the official rules. The rules come just as cannabis farmers in Maine are rocked by a slump that followed overflowing optimism for a new, yet popular, market. "Last year it looked like the crops might be profitable, but as the number of farmers across the country grew, the price fell rapidly, so many farmers ended up getting a lot of hemp that they couldn't sell or too far Had to sell at lower prices than expected, "Fish told WCSH. MPR reported that Mainers grew 3,200 acres of hemp. So far this year, 11 percent of the acreage of 2019 has been harvested. Maine has issued about half as many licenses this year as last year, the station reported.