In 2018, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker signed the bill allowing commercial hemp production, however, Alaska did not record any production in 2018. In June 2019, Alaska proposed Industrial Hemp Pilot Program Regulations. The new law authorizes the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), through the Division of Agriculture, to create an Industrial Hemp Pilot Program to research the growth, cultivation, and marketing of industrial hemp.

The state requires registration from the division of to participate in the state’s Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. The rules identify three classes of participants, which include growers, retailers, and processors.

A registered grower may not harvest industrial hemp until the division has collected and tested a sample or samples from the harvest lot. If a sample tests greater than 0.3% delta-9-THC but not greater than 1.0% delta-9-THC, the division will issue a notice of violation. The registered grower may elect to recondition the failing lot with another lot within testing levels in an attempt reduce the delta-9-THC of the reconditioned lots to not more than 0.3%. If the reconditioned lots still exceed the 0.3% delta-9-THC or if the registrant chooses not to recondition the lot, the registrant shall destroy the hemp.

If a pre- or post-harvest sample tests in excess of 1.0% delta-9-THC levels, the division will issue a notice of violation, order the destruction of the harvest lot.