McCabe bill updating Alaska hemp regulation heads to governor

A bill by Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, adding reforms to Alaska’s industrial hemp law has passed the Legislature.

McCabe’s original HB 325 was in a state House committee and was incorporated into SB 208, a broader agriculture bill focused on strengthening Alaska agricultural land use laws. It has now passed both the House and Senate and is headed to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s desk.

“Industrial hemp is an agricultural crop under both federal and Alaska law. It is grown by farmers, regulated through the Alaska Division of Agriculture, and represents a growing opportunity for Alaska agriculture, small business development, and future manufacturing,” McCabe said.

The HB 325 provisions included in SB 208 modernize Alaska’s Industrial Hemp Program by aligning portions of Alaska law with current federal agricultural standards; reducing regulatory burdens on growers and processors; Improving clarity for licensing, transportation, testing, and compliance; updating remediation and enforcement provisions to better reflect real-world farming operations.

The bill preserves the existing 0.3% Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, limit under state and federal law and maintains oversight authority through the Department of Natural Resources. THC is the chemical compound in marijuana that creates a “high.”

“This legislation supports Alaska farmers, agricultural producers, and small businesses looking to participate in emerging hemp-related agricultural markets. The legislation does not legalize recreational marijuana, weaken controlled substance laws, or reduce public safety protections. It simply modernizes the regulatory framework surrounding an already legal and regulated agricultural commodity,” McCabe said in a statement.

Sara Williams, President of Sacred Seeds Foundation, noted that the bill helps create “a clear and workable legal framework for hemp in Alaska” and supports efforts to build Alaska’s first industrial hemp manufacturing facility focused on clean, non-toxic building materials.