The 2014 Farm bill in section 7606 authorizes institutions of higher education or state departments of agriculture in states that have legalized hemp cultivation to conduct research and pilot programs. The 2015 Nevada legislature legalized the cultivation of hemp for research and pilot projects. The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), under the installment of Senate Bills 305 and 347, provides producers the opportunity to engage in industrial hemp research and development pilot programs. The Nevada State Hemp Plan was approved by USDA on May 28, 2021.

The grower and seeds producer applicants shall pay a nonrefundable application fee of $900 and $100 respectively, and;

• Certified Outdoor Operations: Additional fee of $5.00/acre or portion thereof;
• Certified Indoor Operations: Additional fee of $0.33/1000 sq. ft or portion thereof.

The handler applicant shall pay a nonrefundable application fee of $1,000.

According to Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), 1,128 acres of hemp were grown in Nevada in 2018 comparing to 435 acres in 2017. In 2019, there were 213 grower certificate holders with an approximately 4,918 acres of hemp production, 53 handler certificate holders and 37 seeds producer certificate holders.

According to a search of the NDA database, there were 116 grower certificate holders with an approximately 1,626 acres of hemp production in 2020, 48 handler certificate holders and 18 seeds producer certificate holders.

In 2021, 61 growers were certified with over 2,800 acres, of which 446 acres were planted, and only 13 growers were licensed for the 2022 growing season with about 27 acres.

Nevada Hemp Industry Infographics

Nevada Cannabis Market