Delaware, Nebraska, Texas win USDA hemp approval

Delaware, Nebraska and Texas are the latest states to win federal approval for their plans to regulate hemp in 2020.

Four American Indian tribes also were greenlighted Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The states join Louisiana, Ohio and New Jersey with federal permission to take the lead in overseeing hemp in 2020.

The American Indian tribes granted federal approval Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) were:

• Colorado River Indian Tribes in Arizona and California.
• Fort Belknap Indian Community in Montana.
• Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska.
• Yurok Tribe in Northern California.

Federal law allows states, territories and tribes to take the lead on regulating hemp production, but only with the blessing of the USDA.

Requirements include the collection of geographic data on hemp producers and a plan to destroy any hemp that exceeds the federal limit of 0.3% THC.