Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023)
Title 2 - AGRICULTURE (§§ 2-1-101 — 2-40-1305)
Subtitle 2 - AGRONOMY (§§ 2-15-101 — 2-25-106)
Chapter 15 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 2-15-101 — 2-15-516)
Subchapter 5 - ARKANSAS INDUSTRIAL HEMP PRODUCTION ACT (§§ 2-15-501 — 2-15-516)
Section 2-15-507 - Grower licenses

• (a) The State Plant Board may establish a procedure for annual licensure to allow persons to grow industrial hemp in the state.

• (b) A license issued under this section shall authorize industrial hemp propagation only on the land areas specified in the license.

• (c)
  • (1) A person seeking an application to grow industrial hemp, whether as part of the industrial hemp research program or otherwise, shall apply to the Department of Agriculture for the appropriate license on a form provided by the department.
  • (2) The rules adopted by the board shall require the applicant to include, at a minimum, the following information on the form provided by the department under subdivision (c)(1) of this section:
    • (A) The name and mailing address of the applicant;
    • (B) The legal description and global positioning coordinates of the production fields to be used to grow industrial hemp; and
    • (C)
      • (i) Written consent allowing the department, if a license is ultimately issued to the applicant, to enter onto the premises on which the industrial hemp is grown to conduct physical inspections of industrial hemp planted and grown by the applicant to ensure compliance with this subchapter and rules adopted under this subchapter.
      • (ii) Tetrahydrocannabinol levels shall be tested as provided in this subchapter.

• (d) Each application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee.

• (e) The board shall establish a fee for an:
  • (1) Initial license; and
  • (2) Annual renewal license.

• (f) Except as provided in § 2-15-505(c), records, data, and information filed in support of a license application are proprietary and subject to inspection only upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

• (g) At the expense of the license holder, the department shall:
  • (1) Monitor the industrial hemp grown by each license holder;
  • (2) Provide for random testing of the industrial hemp for compliance with tetrahydrocannabinol levels; and
  • (3) Provide for other oversight required by board rules.

• (h) The board may establish and collect fees to administer the provisions of this subchapter.

• (i) Fees collected by the board under this subchapter are not refundable and may be used by the department to administer this subchapter.

Added by Act 2021, No. 565,§ 2, eff. 7/28/2021.