The Florida Department of Agriculture has been sending draft hemp rules back and forth with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for months, making final tweaks and incorporating feedback from public comment periods.

During a time of historic economic disruption and agricultural turmoil in Florida due to the novel coronavirus, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried says there’s a newer, greener reason for farmers to be hopeful.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is poised to green-light Florida’s hemp program as early as this week, clearing the way for farmers to apply for cultivation licenses and for other hemp-adjacent businesses to get involved in processing and selling the product.

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Samantha J. Gross ~ Tampa Bay Times ~