Georgia has passed a bill regulating the state’s new hemp industry, which includes increasing processing fees by a lofty $40,000.
The legislation, House Bill 847, increases the annual hemp processing fee to $50,000 a year, up from the $10,000 fee set last year, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Fees to grow hemp remain at $50 per acre.
The fee hike was needed to pay for the government’s cost of running the program, the outlet previously reported, including inspections, enforcement, training and equipment.
Georgia’s new hemp law, which went into effect July 22, also now allows cannabidiol (CBD) to be made from locally grown hemp. It also permits farmers and processors to sell their products to other states.
In addition, it requires anyone transporting hemp to carry appropriate paperwork to show they’re carrying a legal and compliant product. Failure to have the proper paperwork could lead to a misdemeanor charge of up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
