New Mexico approves rules for industrial hemp cultivation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico State University Board of Regents has approved a rule crafted by state agriculture officials to govern the industrial cultivation of hemp.
The effort stems from legislation that passed in 2017 and eventually became law following a veto fight.
NMSU President John Floros tells The Associated Press that hemp has the potential to revitalize farms across the state and he expects the industry to grow quickly given its profitability.
The rule approved Thursday calls for growers to be licensed and it establishes fees as well as testing and inspection requirements.
There's also a push in Congress by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to make hemp a legal agricultural commodity, removing it from the federal list of controlled substances. Floros said that would provide more assurances for farmers in New Mexico and elsewhere.