Bill > SB94

This bill establishes a framework for industrial hemp farming in New Mexico, defining "industrial hemp" as Cannabis sativa L. with a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of no more than three-tenths percent on a dry weight basis, aligning the state with federal law. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture will issue licenses to institutions of higher education, persons, or businesses to grow industrial hemp for research and development, including agricultural, processing, and marketing purposes. A dedicated "New Mexico industrial hemp research and development fund" will be established, financed by program fees, donations, and grants, to support these activities. Additionally, the bill amends the definition of "marijuana" within the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp, thereby clarifying its legal status and ensuring it is not classified alongside other forms of cannabis that are regulated as controlled substances. This amendment also explicitly exempts the cultivation of industrial hemp by qualified entities and the use of marijuana or its derivatives by certified patients under specific state acts from being considered Schedule I controlled substances.