Rural Vermont Comments on the Vermont Agency Of Agriculture, Food, & Markets Proposed Hemp Rules

The VT Agency of Agriculture conducted two required public hearings in June 2019 on the proposed Rules to implement the law governing Vermont’s State Hemp Program. Rural Vermont had representatives at both meetings, provided testimony, and submitted formal comments.

On September 6, 2019 the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM) issued a response to comments from the public on the proposed Hemp Rules. We have tracked Rural Vermont’s formal comments on the Hemp Rules to the responses provided by VAAFM. Read a breakdown of how VAAFM’s comments to the Rules addressed Rural Vermont’s concerns here. If you haven’t already, we strongly recommend that you:

·         Read the Agency’s proposed rules on production and processing of hemp here.

·         Read Rural Vermont’s comments in full here.

·         Read the Agency’s response to all public comments here.

VAAFM will submit the final Hemp Rules to the VT Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR) and then to the USDA for federal approval. The intent of VAAFM was to have the new rules in place in time for the 2019 harvest. Rural Vermont will continue to monitor this process and anticipate the release of the final Hemp Rules and the subsequent development of the Cannabis Quality Control Program. Stay tuned for possible needs for further public engagement from the Hemp community.