Bill > SB2178

This bill establishes a comprehensive Industrial Hemp Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) to promote the cultivation and use of non-cannabinoid industrial hemp, which is defined as the plant Cannabis sativa L. with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of 0.3% or less on a dry weight basis, grown for its fiber, seed, or oil, and specifically excluding hemp grown for cannabidiol extraction. The program will provide education and technical assistance to farmers, support research and development through the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience focusing on local adaptation, sustainability, and economic development, and promote partnerships with Native Hawaiian practitioners and organizations. A new Industrial Hemp Program Advisory Board will be created to develop a strategic plan for expanding processing infrastructure and commercialization of industrial hemp products, with a focus on scalable and regenerative technologies. The bill also adopts state building codes to include provisions for hemp-based materials like hempcrete, and appropriates funds to support these initiatives, with an effective date of July 1, 2050.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2178&year=2026