Missouri Hemp Regulations

From the 1850s to the 1870s Missouri hemp industry produced an estimated 38,000 tons or more than 30% of the total production in the United States.

In 2018, Missouri established the Missouri Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program and limited the crop to 2,000 acres statewide, and each farmer could grow no more than 40 acres of hemp.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture finalized rules in 2019 guided by the authority granted by Missouri Senate Bill 133 and an extension of the 2014 Farm Bill. Together, these laws legalized regulated production and distribution of industrial hemp, removed hemp acreage limits in Missouri, and created the following framework for the registrations and permits:

• Producer Registration: Authorizes a person to cultivate industrial hemp in Missouri. These persons are authorized to sell their harvested, nonviable products once they are confirmed to have an acceptable hemp THC level.
• Agricultural Hemp Propagule and Seed Permit: Authorizes a person to sell, distribute, or offer for sale any viable industrial hemp in Missouri, including propagules (transplants, cuttings, clones, seedlings, etc.) or seed.

In September 2020, USDA approved Missouri State Plan and in May 2021, the amended State Plan was authorized by USDA.

Missouri Hemp Industry

The number of hemp producers in the state increased from 63 in 2021 to 80 in 2022. According to the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Missouri is the only state that sustained a growth in acres planted. Missouri reported 1,900 acres planted in 2022, up from 1,400 in 2021, according to the National Hemp Report, and about 1,400 acres harvested in 2022 compared to 1,150 in 2021. Most of the hemp grown in Missouri has been destined for fiber (90%). Missouri’s hemp fiber and grain industry is expected to continue to grow as more farmers become comfortable with growing protocols, reliable seed genetics and predictable rates of return on their hemp investments.

After January 1, 2023, farmers interested in producing industrial hemp in Missouri must complete the licensing application through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Domestic Hemp Production Program. In 2023, 51 hemp producers received a license.

Missouri Hemp Industry Infographics

Missouri Cannabis Market