HB 6480 Summary

• Establishes the "Michigan Industrial Hemp Act" to define and regulate the growing and processing of industrial hemp, defined as Cannabis sativa L. with no more than 0.3% THC or higher THC levels if the cannabiniol (CBL) to THC ratio is at least 2 to 1.

• Requires growers and processors to obtain annual licenses from the Michigan Department of Agriculture, with fees of $150 for growers (or $5 per acre, whichever is greater), $150 for processors, or $200 for joint applications; growers must demonstrate at least 10 acres of designated land.

• Establishes the Industrial Hemp Regulatory Fund to receive license fees and administrative fines, with revenues used only for enforcement and administration of the act.

• Prohibits applicants whose qualifying officers, owners, or operators have felony convictions related to controlled substances and requires fingerprinting and criminal background checks submitted to state police and the FBI.

• Imposes operational requirements including equipment cleaning, seed covering during transport, destruction of random plants, pre-harvest notification to the department, and allows law enforcement unrestricted access to fields for monitoring and testing; violations subject to suspension or revocation of license and fines up to $500.