Bill > HB357

This bill, titled the "Agricultural Hemp Act," establishes New Mexico's policy for growing industrial hemp, defining it as any part of the cannabis plant with a very low concentration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. The act aims to support New Mexico's agriculture by providing farmers with a new, potentially profitable crop that can be used for food, fiber, and fuel, while also creating business and job opportunities. It clarifies that industrial hemp and its seeds are agricultural products regulated by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, and growers must comply with departmental rules and keep records of their seed purchases. Importantly, this bill amends the definition of "marijuana" within the state's Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp that meets specific THC concentration limits, thereby distinguishing it from illegal marijuana.