2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 7 - Agriculture
Chapter 13 - Farming and Fishing
Subchapter III - Cultivation of Hemp
§ 206. Promotion of hemp research and development
(a) The Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the University of the Virgin Islands shall promote the research and development of markets for the Virgin Islands industrial hemp and products after the selection and establishment of the industrial hemp research program and the Industrial Hemp Commission, subject to the availability of adequate funds for these purposes. The Department shall work cooperatively with research programs established by the University of the Virgin Islands and other universities that conduct similar research programs.
(b) The University of the Virgin Islands and other selected universities in their industrial hemp research programs shall undertake research of industrial hemp production in the Virgin Islands. The Department shall assist the industrial hemp research program in obtaining the necessary federal permits from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency or appropriate federal agency. In undertaking the industrial hemp research program, the universities may:
(1) Grow industrial hemp to conduct agronomy research and analysis of required soils, growing conditions, and harvest methods relating to the production of industrial hemp for commercial products, including but not limited to hemp seed, paper, clothing, and oils;
(2) Conduct seed research on various types of industrial hemp which are best suited for growing in the Virgin Islands, including but not limited to, seed availability, creation of Virgin Islands hybrid types, in-the-ground variety trials, and seed production. In no case may the THC levels exceed 0.3 percent;
(3) Study the economic feasibility of developing an industrial hemp market in various types of industrial hemp which can be grown in the Virgin Islands;
(4) Report on the estimated value-added benefits, including environmental benefits that Virgin Islands and state-side businesses would reap by having an industrial hemp market of Virgin Islands-grown industrial hemp varieties in the Territory;
(5) Study the agronomy research being conducted worldwide relating to industrial hemp varieties, production, and utilization;
(6) Research and promote Virgin Islands industrial hemp and hemp seed on the world market which can be grown on farms in the Territory; and
(7) Study the feasibility of attracting private funding for the Virgin Islands industrial hemp research program.
(c) The authorization granted in this section does not subject the industrial hemp research program or the selected universities wherever they are located to any criminal liability under the controlled substances laws of the Virgin Islands. This exemption from criminal liability is a limited exemption to be strictly construed and does not apply to any of the activities of the industrial hemp research program or the selected universities which are not expressly permitted in the authorization.
(d) The authorization granted in this section does not alter, amend, or repeal by implication any provision of the laws of the Virgin Islands relating to controlled substances.
(e) The University of the Virgin Islands and the Department of Agriculture shall notify the Virgin Islands Police Department and all other local law enforcement agencies of the duration, size and location of all industrial hemp plots.
