SB 14-184 Summary

• Establishes a seed certification program for industrial hemp, requiring certified seeds to contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol on a dry-weight basis, including Colorado Heritage Cannabis seed varieties.

• Creates an Industrial Hemp Grant Research Program allowing state institutions of higher education to conduct research developing or recreating industrial hemp strains suited for industrial applications and breeding purposes.

• Changes industrial hemp registration application deadline from May 1 to "prior to planting" and designates application for registration as a matter of statewide concern.

• Protects registrants and higher education institutions from registration revocation or suspension if their hemp crop tests above THC limits, provided the crop is destroyed or utilized in a manner approved and verified by the commissioner.

• Authorizes collection of additional registration fees to fund industrial hemp research and certification programs, with funding sourced from registrant fees, marijuana cash funds (up to $10 million), and marijuana tax cash funds (up to $10 million) beginning July 1, 2015.