HB 1778 Summary

• Creates the Arkansas Industrial Hemp Act establishing a 10-year research program overseen by the State Plant Board to assess agricultural and economic potential of industrial hemp production in Arkansas

• Authorizes two types of licenses: research program grower licenses for demonstration plots and general industrial hemp grower licenses, with application fees of $50 and license fees up to $200

• Permits industrial hemp with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration not exceeding 0.3%, with testing and compliance monitoring conducted at the licensee's expense

• Requires licensed growers to maintain production records for 3 years, file documentation of certified seed use, notify the board of sales, and allow board inspections of crops

• Establishes the Arkansas Industrial Hemp Program Fund from permit fees and grants to support research activities, with unencumbered balances carried forward and dedicated solely to the hemp research program