Hemp Farmers Wanted in Oregon

Attention, Oregon growers: If you’re looking to expand your crop base, you might want to consider hemp.

The state’s Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for business licenses to sow hemp. A three-year license will cost cultivators $1,500, and planting could begin as early as spring.

Industrial hemp, which hasn’t made as many waves politically or business-wise across the nation as marijuana, has already been planted and harvested in three other states: Colorado, Kentucky and Vermont.

There are business restrictions in Oregon, however, including a ban on processing hemp seeds into oil, and a requirement that the hemp crops contain less than 0.3% THC. The processing restriction means there will be arguably less applications for the plant, but it can still be turned into a wide variety of goods, such as clothing, rope, food, automobile parts and even diapers.