An Act To Allow Hemp Growers To Grow Hemp from Clones and To Grow Hemp Indoors
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0742
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: HARVELL, DILL, AUSTIN, BRADSTREET, FARRIN, HILLIARD, O'CONNOR, POULIOT, SIMMONS, VACHON
Amends: 7 MRSA §2231

Legislative Document
No. 742
H.P. 522
House of Representatives, March 2, 2017
An Act To Allow Hemp Growers To Grow Hemp from Clones and 
To Grow Hemp Indoors
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HARVELL of Farmington.
Cosponsored by Senator DILL of Penobscot and
Representatives: AUSTIN of Gray, BRADSTREET of Vassalboro, FARRIN of Norridgewock, 
HILLIARD of Belgrade, O'CONNOR of Berwick, POULIOT of Augusta, SIMMONS of 
Waldoboro, VACHON of Scarborough.
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, current law does not allow for the cultivation of industrial hemp from 
tissue samples taken from live crops grown from certified seeds or from a cutting from a 
mature industrial hemp plant and these propagation techniques allow for greater control 
in terms of biological selection, ensuring production of hemp crops and certifiable seeds 
that do not exceed permitted tetrahydrocannabinol levels for industrial hemp; and 
Whereas, current rules do not allow for the licensing of industrial hemp grown 
indoors and indoor production provides a greater ability to regulate the growing 
environment for the controlled studies necessary for a new industry in Maine; and 
Whereas, allowing indoor production and new propagation techniques will help 
Maine to move forward in the industrial hemp industry and produce scientific research 
that provides value in many commercial applications to benefit Maine’s economy; and 
Whereas, academic research partnerships and projects that could benefit from new 
propagation techniques and indoor production are slated to begin in early 2017 and 
provide significant benefits to Maine’s research institutions and economy; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §2231, sub-§§1, 2 and 6, as amended by PL 2015, c. 202, §1, 
are further amended to read: 
1.  Definitions.  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, 
"industrial 
hemp" 
means 
any 
variety 
of 
Cannabis 
sativa 
L. 
with 
a 
delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration that does not exceed 0.3% on a dry weight 
basis and that is grown or possessed by a licensed grower in compliance with this chapter.  
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, "certified seed source" 
means a source of hemp seeds that are certified by a 3rd party as producing hemp having 
a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration that does not exceed 0.3% on a dry weight 
basis.  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, "clone" means an 
industrial hemp plant produced using a cutting from any part of a mature industrial hemp 
plant. 
2.  Growing permitted.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person may 
plant, grow, harvest, possess, process, sell and buy industrial hemp if that person holds a 
license issued pursuant to subsection 4.  A person licensed pursuant to subsection 4 may 
plant, grow and harvest only hemp that is grown from seeds acquired from a certified 
seed source, grown from a clone or propagated from tissue cultures removed from live 
crops grown from seeds acquired from a certified seed source.  A person licensed 
pursuant to subsection 4 may acquire hemp seeds directly from a certified seed source or 
from a hemp seed distributor licensed in this State distributing hemp seeds pursuant to 
subsection 2-A. 
6.  Rules.  The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish an application fee, a 
license fee, per acre fees for monitoring, sampling and testing and guidelines for 
monitoring the growth and harvest of industrial hemp.  The commissioner shall adopt 
rules to provide for the application and licensing of industrial hemp grown indoors.  
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.  
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides that a person licensed to grow industrial hemp may, in addition to 
existing permitted activities, grow industrial hemp from a clone or tissue cultures 
removed from live crops grown from certified seeds.  It also requires the Commissioner 
of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to adopt rules to allow for licensing of indoor 
industrial hemp production.